Jalen Brunson’s defense fuels the New York Knicks’ resurgence

There are few cases where it feels so easy to identify the root of a positive trend as it is with the New York Knicks, now fully engaged in a tight battle to hold onto second place in the Eastern Conference.

Since their win over the Brooklyn Nets, Mike Brown’s group has posted an impressive defensive rating of 94.3 points. That figure is partially inflated by allowing just 66 points in the all–New York City showdown, but it remains an eye-opening number nonetheless.

It’s the kind of stat any coach would immediately recognize as the product of collective work and on-court organization. Still, the former Kings and Cavaliers coach points to one player as the perfect embodiment of the defensive level the Knicks are currently showing.

And that player isn’t a classic role player assigned to neutralize opposing scorers – it’s the team’s primary offensive engine: Jalen Brunson.

Jalen Brunson is a great defender. Obviously a lot of people sleep on him, and I don’t understand why they’ve done it for years.

Mike Brown

Focusing solely on individual numbers or highlight-reel plays would be misleading, or at least insufficient, for a complete evaluation. Brunson doesn’t even rank among the league’s top 25 players in steals per game.

What truly matters is his tangible physical presence, regardless of height. He discourages isolation attempts, disrupts ball reversals and team actions, and pairs it all with unusually quick hands.

By guiding the ball-handler with his chest, he’s able to stay balanced and at the same time remain constantly in front of him.

Mike Brown

It’s the team statistics that tell the real story. After this impressive stretch, New York, alongside OKC, ranks as the best team in the league in opponent field-goal percentage allowed, holding opponents to just 46.5%. That’s a hugely encouraging sign for Karl-Anthony Towns and company heading into the playoffs – and a clear warning shot to the rest of the Eastern Conference.