Jalen Brunson is one of the most beloved men in New York basketball due to his instant impact on the New York Knicks franchise in the last two years. Bruson has been at the forefront of the team's offensive charge and has emerged as an All-NBA caliber player for the Knicks.
Despite being a two-time NCAA champion and Naismith College Player of the Year, Brunson was a second-round pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft. His rise in the NBA was during the Mavs run into the conference finals, averaging 21.6 points in 18 matches. In spite of his accomplishments, the Mavs didn't want to sign him on a four-year $55 million and he went on to sign a four-year $104 million contract with the Knicks. The Knicks were without a playoff victory since 2013 but since Brunson’s arrival, the Knicks have won two playoff series in as many playoff appearances. The undersized guard dominated the Philadelphia 76ers' defense in the 2024 Eastern Conference first round and rewrote the history books. He penetrated the 76ers' defense like a hot knife in butter and his floaters, layups and mid-range jumpers annihilated the 76ers. Brunson is now tied with Bernard King for the most points in a single series in the Knicks history with 213 points against the 76ers.
Jalen Brunson Playoffs Appearances
As of October 2024, Jalen Brunson has made the playoffs four consecutive times and has 49 playoff appearances. He has led the Knicks to their first playoff series win in 2023 after nine years.
In the 2024 playoffs, Brunson had four consecutive 40+ point games becoming the only fourth player in history to do so. The offense of the Knicks runs through Brunson, as he is ranked number one in field goal attempts (340) and also the leading scorer with 421 points in the 2024 playoffs. The offensive wizard can also pass and have more than 97 assists in the 2024 playoffs.
| Player Name | Team | Playoff Year |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 2024 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 2023 |
| Jalen Brunson | Dallas Mavericks | 2022 |
| Jalen Brunson | Dallas Mavericks | 2021 |
Jalen Brunson Playoffs Win-Loss Record
As of October 2024, Jalen Brunson has played 49 games in the postseason, winning 25. He has played 24 games for the Knicks in the playoffs, winning 13.
6-5 7-6
In the 2024 playoffs, Brunson averaged 34.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game. The Knicks rely heavily on Brunson offensively, as Coach Tom Thibodeau has played more than 518 minutes at 39.8 minutes per game.
| Player Name | Team | Season | Opponent | Points scored overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 2024 Eastern Conference Semifinals | Indiana Pacers (2-4) | 208 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 2024 Round 1 | Philadelphia 76ers (4-2) | 213 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 2023 Eastern Conference Semifinals | Miami Heat (2-4) | 186 |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 2023 Round 1 | Cleveland Cavaliers (4-1) | 120 |
| Jalen Brunson | Dallas Mavericks | 2022 Western Conference Finals | Golden State Warriors (1-4) | 90 |
| Jalen Brunson | Dallas Mavericks | 2022 Western Conference semifinals | Phoenix Suns (4-3) | 131 |
| Jalen Brunson | Dallas Mavericks | 2022 Round 1 | Utah Jazz (4-2) | 167 |
| Jalen Brunson | Dallas Mavericks | 2021 Round 1 | Los Angeles Clippers (3-4) | 56 |
Jalen Brunson Conference Finals Record
Since being drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, Jalen Brunson has appeared in one conference final and has a 0-1 record. He lost to the Golden State Warriors led by Stephen Curry in five games. The Mavs struggled against the Warriors trio and despite Brunson scoring 31 points in game 2, the Mavs went on to lose the game by nine points.
| Player Name | Team | Season | Opponent | Points scored overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 2022 Western Conference Finals | Golden State Warriors (1-4) | 90 |
FAQ's on Jalen Brunson Playoffs History
A. Jalen Brunson has appeared in the playoffs four consecutive times as of 2024. Brunson played in 2021 and 2022 playoffs with Dallas Mavericks and 2023 and 2024 playoffs with the New York Knicks.
A. Jalen Brunson made the conference finals one time in his NBA career. It was in 2022 when his Dallas Mavericks lost to the Golden State Warriors led by Stephen Curry in five games.
A. Jalen Brunson averages 23.9 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 49 games in the playoffs in his career, as of October 2024.
A. Jalen Brunson holds the record for most points for the Knicks in a playoff game, with 47 points in Game 4 of the 2024 First Round against the 76ers.
A. Jalen Brunson is the only player in NBA history as of May 2024 to score 40+ points and 5+ assists in four consecutive playoff games.
