Kicking off our top 10 on our top 25 rankings is Jalen Brunson. The New York Knicks star guard is coming off a career season where he established himself in a new class of players. Brunson is an elite and dynamic scorer who has an incredible amount of offensive responsibility. Let’s dive into his game and spot on the list.
Top 25 NBA Players 2024-25: No. 10 – Jalen Brunson
A Prolific Scorer and Offensive Engine
Brunson is one of the league’s most gifted and crafty scorers. Crucially, Brunson can score at all three levels. He thrives as a crafty yet powerful finisher at the rim who regularly gets to the free-throw line. Brunson pairs this with consistent mid-range and three-point shooting. Additionally, Brunson is a high-level playmaker whose offensive gravity opens up more opportunities for his teammates. His skill set and ability to lead an offense are even more impressive considering he is only 6-foot-2. This past season, Brunson proved he is one of the league’s best offensive engines.
Season Recap
After a breakout season in 2022-23, Brunson took his game to another level in 2023-24. Brunson posted absurd averages of 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds on 47.9/40.1/84.7 shooting splits. Notably, Brunson was awarded second-team All-NBA, and his 28.7 points per game ranked fourth in the league. Brunson’s All-NBA and All-Star selections were the first of his career. He carried an injury-riddled Knicks team to 50 wins and a 2-seed in the East. The Knicks offense was an absurd +17 with Brunson on the court. Furthermore, Brunson ranked within the top five for offensive plus/minus and offensive win shares.
In the playoffs, with even more injuries to his supporting cast, Brunson only leveled up his play. He posted absurd averages of 32.4 points, 7.5 assists, and 3.3 rebounds. Impressively, Brunson became the fourth player in NBA history to score 40-plus points in four consecutive playoff games. Off the heels of Brunson’s heroics, the Knicks were able to beat the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round before losing in seven games to the Indiana Pacers. Brunson notably got injured in the middle of Game 7 against the Pacers. Regardless, Brunson’s play throughout the season, especially in the playoffs, was beyond incredible.
Jalen Brunson is the first player since Michael Jordan to score 40+ PTS in 4 consecutive playoff games.
Historical Greatness. pic.twitter.com/ioV4MvNCP7
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) May 7, 2024
Season Outlook
With a healthy roster and the offseason addition of Brunson’s college teammate Mikal Bridges, the Knicks are poised to contend for a title. Bridges and OG Anunoby are two of the league’s premier wing defenders, making them ideal fits next to Brunson. Additionally, Julius Randle is a perfect complimentary star. With more secondary creation and a deep bench, the Knicks have a strong case as the biggest challengers to the defending champion Boston Celtics. Brunson’s scoring numbers will certainly take a slight dip. Nevertheless, he will still likely remain in the top 10 for points per game, and his assist numbers could increase. More importantly, Brunson will have an opportunity to compete for a championship.
The Last Word
Brunson proved himself as a top-10 player with an incredible season where he propelled the Knicks to a surprising amount of success. His ability to carry an offense while scoring at an efficient rate is extremely impressive. There are few stars as important to their team as Brunson. While his counting numbers won’t be the same this year being the best player on a team competing for the title could allow Brunson to further rise up the NBA hierarchy.
Keep up with our top 25 list here.
