Knicks' Jalen Brunson Speaks on Not Getting Complacent

[ad_1] Two-time All-NBA New York Knicks level guard Jalen Brunson has gotten trustworthy in regards to the threat of complacency heading right into a pivotal 2025-26 NBA season.

With the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics seemingly taking themselves off the board by not absolutely addressing the Achilles tendon tear absences of their two greatest gamers, level guard Tyrese Haliburton and energy ahead Jayson Tatum, respectively, it has fallen to the Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers to choose up the slack because the presumed greatest remaining wholesome groups within the Japanese Convention.

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Final yr, Cleveland went 64-18 and secured the East's No. 1 seed, earlier than being upset within the second spherical by Indiana.

Boasting 4 All-Stars of their primes in guards Donovan Mitchell, energy ahead/heart Evan Mobley and heart Jarrett Allen (Allen being the one one to not make the 2025 All-Star group), Cleveland struggled by means of accidents through the playoffs, leaving it susceptible to a sooner, extra defensively versatile Pacers squad.

Knicks' level guard #11 Jalen Brunson (R) dribbles the ball underneath strain from the Pacers' level guard #09 TJ McConnell (L) throughout Recreation 5 of the Japanese Convention Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between... Knicks' level guard #11 Jalen Brunson (R) dribbles the ball underneath strain from the Pacers' level guard #09 TJ McConnell (L) throughout Recreation 5 of the Japanese Convention Finals of the 2025 NBA Playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York on Could 29, 2025. Extra CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP through Getty Photographs New York really had extra postseason success, regardless of ending because the No. 3 seed within the convention with a 51-31 file. The Knicks superior to the East Finals for the primary time since 2000, however fell to Indiana as effectively.

Nonetheless, New York wasn't happy by ending outdoors of the Finals correct, and in the end swapped in Mike Brown for Tom Thibodeau to get a bit extra offensive fluidity.

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The Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic made strikes to enhance, however for now, New York and Cleveland seem like the early frontrunners to get pleasure from deep playoff runs in 2026.

Knicks' Free Agent Reinforcements This Yr New York has already added strong reinforcements to degree up across the margins, having signed free agent vets Guerschon Yabusele and Jordan Clarkson to team-friendly offers in an effort to shore up its flexibility off the bench.

The Knicks have additionally inked guards Malcolm Brogdon, Landry Shamet and Garrison Mathews to non-guaranteed coaching camp offers, however as of now can solely signal one to a regular roster contract resulting from cap restrictions.

Nonetheless, Brunson for one shouldn't be seeking to take something without any consideration.

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"Hopefully we do not have that mindset going into the season the place we expect we're simply going to leap again into the Japanese Convention Finals," Brunson mentioned in dialog with D.J. Siddiqi of Video games Hub.

"We want to have the ability to undergo this course of once more and proceed to get higher and to battle to recover from that hump."

The 6-foot-2 Villanova product, who was named Clutch Participant of the Yr final season, has completed among the many high 10 in MVP votes in every of the final two seasons. An improved Knicks run may assist him vault as much as a fringe contender for that honor this season.

In 65 wholesome video games final yr, Brunson averaged 26.0 factors on .488/.383/.821 taking pictures splits, 7.3 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 0.9 steals per.