Jalen Brunson is making it clear that the New York Knicks cannot afford to be comfortable heading into the new season.
In an exclusive interview with D.J. Siddiqi of Games Hub, Brunson emphasized that the franchise’s recent success is not a reason to relax.
“I think we’ve been taking steady steps every year,” Brunson said. “The best part about our team is the chemistry we’ve grown and we’ve created. A lot of people help us on this journey, and to be able to be where we are now, it’s nothing to be satisfied about.”
The All-Star guard added that New York must embrace the grind if it hopes to build on last season’s Eastern Conference Finals appearance.
“Hopefully we don’t have that mindset going into the season where we think we’re just going to jump back into the Eastern Conference Finals,” Brunson said. “We need to be able to go through this process again and continue to get better and the fight to get over that hump.”
Brunson has become the face of the Knicks since joining in 2022. Last summer, he signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension, opting for less than his maximum potential earnings to give the team financial flexibility.
He was later named the 36th captain in franchise history, further cementing his leadership role.
The 29-year-old is coming off another standout campaign where he averaged 26 points and 7.3 assists while earning All-NBA Second Team honors for the second straight year.
His playoff performances underscored his value, including a 43-point effort in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Indiana. Brunson set multiple franchise records during that run, surpassing Knicks legends Bernard King and Patrick Ewing in postseason scoring milestones.
Despite those achievements, Brunson’s focus remains on what comes next. With Mike Brown replacing Tom Thibodeau as head coach, the Knicks will look to build on their chemistry while addressing gaps that showed up in their playoff exit.
For Brunson, the message is simple: last year’s progress cannot become a ceiling.
