Knicks guard Jalen Brunson's strong case for NBA Most Improved Player Award
Jalen Brunson is a finalist for the NBA’s 2022-23 Sportsmanship Award. The honor is given to the player who "represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court."
If you see how the Knicks guard carries himself on the floor, you know he has a solid chance of winning the award. The Sportsmanship Award isn’t the only postseason award within reach for Brunson.
He also has a solid case for the 2022-23 Most Improved Player Award.
Tom Thibodeau was asked about Brunson’s candidacy for the award on Sunday and talked about why the 26-year-old has been able to improve year after year and why the Knicks aren’t surprised by what they’ve seen from him.
“I think a lot of times people manufacture things that really aren’t true,” Thibodeau said. “And when you dig into his numbers, you see how true they are.”
Thibodeau brings up a good point. Brunson’s stats this season support his case for the MIP award.
Brunson has the third-highest points-per-game increase among players scoring at least 20 points per game this season. His 7.7 points per game increase is second to Utah’s Lauri Markkanen and Portland’s Damian Lillard. He’s nearly a full point ahead of OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Markkanen, Gilgeous-Alexander and Mikal Bridges are among the players who will compete with Brunson for the award.
Other numbers that support Brunson’s case: His assists per game are up by 1.4 this year compared to 2021-22; his three-point field goal percentage is up by 4.3 percent; his true shooting percentage is up 1.4 percent.
Brunson is one of two players averaging at least 23.5 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds while shooting at or above 48 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc. The other player? Golden State’s Steph Curry.
“He’s made a quantum leap this year,” Thibodeau said Tuesday. “When you look at his shot profile, outstanding. He’s getting to the line more, he’s shooting more threes, he’s playmaking, he’s creating easy offense for us. He’s managing and controlling the game, he’s bringing the best out of his teammates.
"He has all the attributes that you value: he’s tough, he’s smart, can think on his feet, dedicated to his craft, competitive.”
Brunson also has played well in the clutch. He’s fourth in points scored in the clutch (when the score is within five points with under five minutes to play). Among those top clutch scorers, Brunson ranks second in three-point percentage (37.5) and third in overall field-goal percentage (51.6). Thibs called those numbers "off the charts."
Some odds-makers have Markkanen as the favorite for the award. Gilgeous-Alexander has strong odds on several betting sites. Both players have had remarkable seasons and are strong candidates for the award.
Thibodeau on Sunday brought up one factor that may go under the radar when voters are making their choice.
“I would say the most important thing is what he’s contributed to winning,’ the coach said. “That’s always been his biggest attribute.”
Brunson’s win total has increased by 18 so far this season. That’s a bigger increase than Gilgeous-Alexander (17) and Markannen (-4).
“This year, there were a lot of games where he put us on his back and carried us,” Isaiah Hartenstein said of Brunson.
If the Vegas odds are correct, Markannen will win the award. If that happens, the Knicks will probably be disappointed. But they also believe Brunson can put together a strong case for MIP every year.
“When you look at him, wherever’s he’s been, whether it’s high school, college or the pros, there’s been significant jumps every season,” Thibodeau said. “And that’s a testament to him and his willingness to grow and learn and work. His work ethic is off the charts. And each experience is teaching him something. I think he’ll be one of those guys because of the way he approaches it, he’ll get better every year.”
