Jalen Brunson was within the automobile together with his greatest buddy, Connor, recent off recording an episode of his Roommates Podcast, when the honking and flashing headlights from the vehicles behind him began. Then his sister, Erica, referred to as. Because the older brother, he answered the telephone in what he describes as “a very derogatory way.”
“I knew [being named a starter] was a possibility,” he mentioned after follow on the Knicks’ Tarrytown coaching facility on Friday. “But I didn’t have my hopes up too high. Very thankful.”
Brunson will journey to San Francisco for the All-Star Sport as a starter, joined by his Knicks teammate Karl-Anthony Cities. Acquired in a blockbuster offseason commerce with Minnesota that despatched Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Timberwolves, Cities has delivered on his promise to raise the Knicks.
Collectively, Brunson and Cities signify the primary pair of Knicks teammates to start out within the All-Star Sport since 1975, when Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Walt “Clyde” Frazier donned the orange and blue.
“It’s super special,” Cities mentioned Friday. “I grew up in this area, and to have my name close to their names is something you just dream about when you’re young. So I’m super honored, to say the least. And I’m just really happy to have this opportunity to represent my teammates because they’re the reason we’re able to do this.”
Each gamers acknowledge that their choice as starters is a testomony to crew success. Sure, Brunson is averaging 26 factors and a career-high 7.3 assists, and sure, Cities is posting 25 factors and 14 rebounds in his first season in New York. However their All-Star recognition stems from the Knicks’ standing because the Japanese Convention’s No. 3 seed with a 29-16 file.
“I think it’s great, and they’ve had great seasons, but it’s also a byproduct of what their teammates are doing with them as well,” head coach Tom Thibodeau mentioned. “Winning helps them get recognized. Very proud of them and certainly felt they were deserving. And there’s still a long way for us to go, but it’s a great accomplishment for our organization.”
For Cities, success in New York has required sacrifice — an idea he’s conversant in after years of adapting to suit Minnesota’s revolving roster of stars like Jimmy Butler, Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert. In his first season with the Knicks, that sacrifice continued as he adjusted to a star-studded beginning 5 that would arguably characteristic a 3rd All-Star in Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, or OG Anunoby.
Cities embraced his position alongside Brunson, the Knicks’ captain and focus.
“I just wanna win. If I’ve shown anything in my career, I’ve shown many times that I’m willing to sacrifice for the betterment of the team. I just want to win, and I’ll do whatever it takes,” Cities mentioned. “This is Jalen’s team, and it’s always been Cap’s team. I just want to amplify everyone any way I possibly can.”
Thibodeau credited the duo’s synergy for his or her early-season success.
“They complement each other extremely well,” Thibodeau mentioned. “Not only as players, but as people, as teammates. They care about their teammates. They care about winning. They’re both very skilled offensively — in terms of the pick-and-roll, their shooting ability, and their ability to score at all three levels — but also their commitment to team play. That’s huge, and we have a team full of guys like that.”
With two All-Star starters main the way in which, the Knicks have a basis not like any in latest historical past. Brunson and Cities embody the steadiness of particular person brilliance and team-oriented play that has the franchise eyeing its highest aspirations.
In spite of everything, the final time the Knicks boasted two All-Star starters, it culminated within the franchise’s most cherished achievement: their final NBA championship.
“It’s been a while for this organization,” Brunson mentioned. “I’m just happy I was able to do it. I can’t really put it into words. It’s an honor.”
