New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was considered one of the most significant omissions from Team USA for the Paris Olympics, especially after his standout NBA season in 2023-24. “Yeah, definitely. Given how I performed last year, I felt I deserved a spot. I believed I could contribute. I’ve taken on many roles in my career, and I’m open to doing that again,” Brunson shared in an interview with Sam Schube of GQ. “But, of course, it just wasn’t meant to be this time. So, you move forward and focus on improving. I still have goals, and making the team is one of them. I want to be there next time.” It’s hard to dispute Brunson’s case, as he averaged a career-high 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists with impressive shooting splits of 48/40/85 over 77 regular-season games. He also helped lead the New York Knicks on a deep playoff journey last season, earned his first NBA All-Star selection, and was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Additionally, he previously represented the USA at the FIBA World Cup last year.
Although a broken hand may have influenced Jalen Brunson’s absence from Team USA, he noted that the national team had already been finalized before his injury, meaning he never had the opportunity to be considered. The revamped New York Knicks are enjoying a perfect preseason, securing wins against the Charlotte Hornets (111-109) and the Washington Wizards (117-94).
Numerous fans from New York were especially thrilled with the blowout win over the Washington Wizards. Even more noteworthy was Karl-Anthony Towns’ impressive home debut for the Knicks, where he recorded 25 points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks, shooting 10-for-11 from the free-throw line.
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