Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau was honest about Jalen Brunson’s performance against the Raptors. The superstar point guard had a rare, quiet appearance in the 139-125 win. Brunson scored 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field and recorded seven assists and two steals. New York is on a four-game winning streak after a disappointing in-season loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Thibodeau praised Brunson’s performance Monday night, noting that the point guard’s calm transition reflected his ability to adapt to the flow of the game. The Knicks head coach described this approach in his postgame press conference with SNY TV.

“He (Brunson) will do whatever the game needs to win. So I thought, you know, we built a big lead and Jalen isn’t fighting the game. He reads the game very well and we brought some people into the game early. I thought he got the guys into a real rhythm. I thought KAT had a great game and OG was great on both ends. Then, you know, Mikal had a really solid game, and when Cam came in with Deuce, they gave us a big spark.”

The Knicks appear to be getting back into shape

Tom Thibodeau’s comments about Brunson’s adaptability highlight the superstar’s most underrated trait. The All-NBA point guard’s selflessness is what is gradually elevating the Knicks over the course of this season. Last year, New York had fewer goals to score, especially after Julius Randle suffered a season-ending injury. Because of this, Jalen has had to take on more of an isolated, scoring-oriented role on offense. The Knicks therefore had the second-lowest assist percentage in the league.

For the 2024-2025 season, New York has become significantly more dynamic offensively with the additions of Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges. Brunson has now reduced his usage rate and is averaging 7.6 assists per game, the highest of his career. The Knicks are twelfth in assist percentage and have the second-highest offensive rating in the league.

Jalen’s efficiency also peaked in his third season with New York. He is currently shooting 49.3% from the field and 44.6% from three-point range. Additionally, Brunson has shown over the last two years that he gets better as the season progresses. Unless injuries occur, this trend is expected to continue through 2025.

Overall, the Knicks’ ability to win different types of games will be crucial going forward. New York has already shown that it can beat any franchise in the league when it plays with an offensive rhythm. However, the team must continue to learn how to win ugly in order to emerge as clear favorites for the title.

Fortunately, New York is doing better after this winning streak, with the return of Landry Shamet and Mitchell Robinson getting closer and closer to his season debut. The Knicks need to continue this momentum, which in this case is largely driven by their star point guard.