New York Knicks News: Jalen Brunson Awarded Huge NBA Accolade

New York Knicks All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson earned his third-ever NBA Player of the Week award for his play from March 11th-17th. He continues to impress as the 2023-24 regular season winds to a close. The NBA revealed the good news in a fresh post via its official X account:

He averaged 35.7 points on a .543/.393/.833 slash line, five assists, three boards and two swipes for the Knicks, who went 3-0 last week. With All-Star New York power forward Julius Randle still out indefinitely due to a dislocated shoulder, Brunson has had to serve as more of a scorer than usual. He has thrived in that capacity.

It's a lucky break for New York. The 41-27 Knicks are currently jockeying with the 44-24 Milwaukee Bucks and the 43-25 Cleveland Cavaliers for the right to be a No. 2 or No. 3 seed in the East, behind the 54-14 Boston Celtics. Currently fourth in the conference, New York would have to square off against the mighty Celts in the second round of the playoffs -- provided, of course, that the club won its first round matchup. At present, the Knicks would have to fend off the jumbo-sized 40-28 Orlando Magic.

The league has indicated that Brunson beat out some major All-Star Eastern Conference talent to secure the accolade. Miami Heat All-Star center Bam Adebayo, Orlando Magic All-Star power forward Paolo Banchero, Boston Celtics All-NBA power forward Jayson Tatum, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star point guard Tyrese Maxey, Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, Indiana Pacers big men Pascal Siakam and Myles Turner, and Heat guard Duncan Robinson were the other nominees. Brunson could be seeing a ton of these characters in the postseason.

For the year, the 6'2" Villanova product is averaging 27.6 points on .478/.400/.843 shooting splits, 6.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and one steal a game. The 27-year-old made his first All-Star berth this season. It's his second year with New York.

Really, he was already the club's best player last season, too, although it was Randle, not Brunson, who made the 2023 All-Star team as New York's representative. Brunson emerged as the Knicks' clear No. 1 option in the playoffs, when the team upset the fourth-seeded Cavs in a five-game first round trouncing. New York ultimately fell to the Miami Heat in the East Semis. Can Brunson and Randle help lead the team further this year? Or will its bad injury luck catch up to it?

Correction 3/20/2024, 10:30 a.m. ET: This article was updated to reflect that the Knicks labeled Julius Randle's injury as a dislocated shoulder.