Jalen Brunson got off to a hot start for the New York Knicks on Friday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, so much so that he even entered Carmelo Anthony territory in the process.
After opening the game with a 21-point explosion in the first quarter, Brunson ended up the half with 33 points. That is the most points in a first half by a Knicks player since 2014 when Melo had 37 against the Charlotte Hornets (the Bobcats), per ESPN Stats & Info.
For those not in the know, Anthony finished the said game with 62 points.
Even making Brunson's explosion more incredible, however, is the fact that he had only two 33-point games in his four seasons prior to Friday's showdown.
Jalen Brunson has definitely been unleashed since joining the Knicks, and New York is definitely luck to have him.
While many were concerned that the Knicks overpaid when they stole him from the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 free agency, Brunson has certainly earned every penny he's getting from his $104 million contract.
Brunson is averaging a 24-4-6 stat line this season, and there's no denying he has been a huge reason for the Knicks' success this year. The ‘Bockers are 44-33 entering the showdown with the Cavs, and they are all but assured of a playoff spot. They are also well on track to finish within the Top 5 of the Eastern Conference.
True enough, if the Knicks want to go deep in the postseason, they will need Brunson to play a big role in that and perhaps wear his Superman cape throughout.
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