Jalen Brunson continues to play at a high level as the regular season comes to a close. Should he garner consideration for an All NBA First Team selection?
The season that Jalen Brunson is having has been nothing short of sensational. He continues to dominate on the offensive end while breaking every Knicks record in sight. Recently, after a 45 point performance against the Bulls Tuesday night, Brunson added to the Knicks record books as well. He became the 2nd player in NBA history to achieve a ridiculous stat.
Making History
Also, in the past 9 games, Brunson has arguably played the best stretch of basketball out of anyone in the league.
Ultimately, even though he likely won’t win the MVP award this year, Brunson has performed like an MVP caliber player throughout the season. He should be a lock for his first All NBA selection. The question is, due to how well he has played, should Brunson garner consideration for a first team selection this season? If you ask me, he should definitely be in the conversation.
Heavy Consideration
Now, the five players that will likely be selected for the All NBA first team are Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Nikola Jokic. There’s been a lot of chatter on social media (especially amongst Knicks fans) about Jalen Brunson replacing one of these players and being included in the first team.
In the end, I believe that Doncic, Alexander, Jokic, and Antetokounmpo should absolutely be in the first team. On the other hand, even though Jayson Tatum is a great player, I think there’s an argument that Brunson should be the fifth selection instead of Tatum.
The Celtics are the best team in the NBA and their record proves that. Jayson Tatum is a big reason for this but there’s an argument that can be made that Brunson has been more valuable to his teams success. The Knicks have been plagued with injuries all season long. Yet somehow, Brunson has been able to keep this team competitive with his heroics. The Knicks have remained a top four team in the Eastern Conference. Plus, even if the Knicks remained healthy this season, like Boston has, they would still be the inferior team. Which speaks to Brunson’s value even more.
Also, Brunson is currently averaging more PPG (28.4) and APG (6.7) while shooting better percentages from the field and three point line. In contrast, even though the scoring averages and percentages are fairly close and could change before the end of the season, this is still something to consider. Especially when Brunson has had more of an offensive load to carry.
A Needed Change
Realistically, due to the fact that the two guard positions are likely filled up and the first team needs another forward, Jayson Tatum will likely get the nod for the first team selection over Brunson. Although this may be the case, the thing that makes this a bit unfair is why do the All NBA selections still go by position if today’s game is “positionless”?
Previously, like I stated, Doncic and Alexander should be the two guards in the first team. Brunson has been phenomenal but it’s hard to pick him over those two players. Especially when you look at their production from a statistical standpoint. Also, at the same time, Brunson shouldn’t be excluded from the conversation because of the position he plays. The All NBA teams should have the best players for that season included instead of just having the best players by position. Unfortunately, because of the way the teams are constructed, Brunson can’t even be truly considered as a candidate for a first team selection in the leagues eyes. This despite the fact that he makes a strong case.
In conclusion, the players that are projected to be selected for the All NBA first team are all worthy candidates. However, Brunson should not be overlooked as a candidate. The thought of him being in the first team should be heavily considered. The way he has performed this season can’t be ignored. Especially when the circumstances haven’t been in his favor in regards to the team’s health. If I’m a betting man, Brunson will more than likely be selected for the All NBA second team. But he should definitely be in the conversation for the first team. We’ll see how this pans out.
Upcoming Friday Matchup
Knicks vs Nets @MSG 7:30 PM ET
One Response