Jalen Brunson Drops Cryptic Quote, Addresses State of Knicks & KAT in New Video Before Hawks Series
New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson provided a cryptic response when asked Wednesday what gives him confidence about his team heading into a first-round matchup against the Atlanta Hawks.
"To be honest, there's a lot of things that go on that you guys don't see. A lot of things that we talk about, a lot of things that we do, that we don't even say publicly," Brunson said. "And for a reason, because we want to keep everything in house. We want to make sure that the people inside this building, inside the locker room— we're all we've got, no matter what, so. Like I said, I have the utmost confidence in them."
Brunson also spoke positively about his chemistry with Karl-Anthony Towns, which he said took time to develop after Towns was first traded to the Knicks ahead of the 2024-25 season.
"The longer we're together, the more chemistry we have," Brunson said. "It's been great, being able to work with him, to understand him, and figure out what best puts us both in position to be successful. I guess I know him better the longer I know him."
Knicks head coach Mike Brown said last week that Brunson and Towns were "getting into a rhythm at the right time" down the stretch of the season.
Part of the reason the duo had found success was because defenders are forced to commit to covering Towns for a pass or shot while leaving Brunson with more room to maneuver, Brown said last Thursday.
"Jalen is great without the basketball. His ability to get open, because he understands angles, is second to none. His ability to change directions without the basketball is second to none," Brown said. "And you have a passer like KAT, who can hand it off or pass late to you, it makes that play really effective... what also makes it also good is KAT can shoot a three."
Towns and Brunson will be tasked with leading the Knicks' offense against the Hawks, who are set to arrive in New York City to tip off the first-round series Saturday evening at 6 p.m. ET.
One major question for the Knicks will be the status of OG Anunoby, who Brown said Sunday is considered day-to-day with an ankle injury. The coach told reporters Wednesday that everyone had participated in practice.
Anunoby has been regularly tasked with guarding Hawks leading scorer Jalen Johnson when matchup against Atlanta this season, so getting his defense back in time for the postseason could be key to the Knicks' hopes of making it back to the Eastern Conference Finals this spring.
