(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Milwaukee Bucks knew that their Christmas Day matchup against the New York Knicks would be tough, especially because it was at Madison Square Garden.
They also knew they’d face many challenges if Jalen Brunson performed as he had been all season long.
Sure enough, Brunson was electric with 38 points and 6 assists, and, sure enough, the Knicks beat the Bucks.
Following the game, Damian Lillard of Milwaukee commended Brunson.
“They’re playing through him. They’re giving him every opportunity, and he’s taking full advantage of it,” Lillard told Fred Katz of The Athletic.
Enough time has passed in 2023-24 with Jalen Brunson's production not showing any signs of slowing down.
We can talk accolades for the Knicks guard, writes @FredKatz.
Specifically, is an All-NBA nod in play?https://t.co/Xz2TzzYH8F pic.twitter.com/jKKstDMXXI
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) December 26, 2023
Lillard is correct: the Knicks are certainly playing through Brunson and they have every reason to.
Their belief in Brunson and his offensive vision is because he is having perhaps the best season of his career, scoring an average of 26.1 points, 4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game.
In just two seasons, Brunson has become the centerpiece of the team’s plans and has been a lynchpin for nearly every single possession.
Although they are the sixth team in the East and obviously want to climb higher in the Eastern Conference standings, Brunson’s Knicks are well-regarded and feared by many.
That’s partly because Brunson has been so incredible in his position.
Some have said that he is too small to lead his team into the playoffs and they believe that the Knicks are still missing a final piece to truly make them great.
But Brunson is consistently showing that he and his team should be taken seriously and his name is repeatedly mentioned as an All-Star and All-NBA candidate.
He has easily slid into his role as a team leader and is looking to expand his abilities even more in the months and years ahead.
The post Damian Lillard Shows Respect To Knicks Star appeared first on The Cold Wire.
