The Knicks’ Jaylen Brunson looks ready for the regular season in a hot start against the Hornets
The New York Knicks and the Charlotte Hornets clashed in their final preseason game of the year. LaMelo Ball shut down the game for Charlotte, but Jalen Brunson staged a show in front of a home crowd at Madison Square Garden. He and Jordan Clarkson, one of New York’s many offseason acquisitionswent into a duel with Miles Bridges and the Hornets on Friday night.
Brunson finished the first quarter with 15 points, two rebounds and two assists. Guard made four three-pointers in the quarter, helping New York end the period with a 30-29 lead. He and Clarkson continued their hot shooting, entering halftime with 20 and 12 points, respectively. On the other side of the match, Bridges led the Hornets with 20 points.
Brunson and the Knicks failed to make the NBA Finals last season. Instead of consolidating resources and chasing a star, New York has made its biggest moves on the fringes of its roster. Clarkson and Gershon Yabusele joined the Knicks rostergiving the team some much-needed depth as they try to take advantage of a relatively weak Eastern Conference.
While New York looks ready for the new season, the team has a lot to adjust to. Mike Brown is the new Knicks coach after the team fired Tom Thibodeau earlier this summer. The front office hopes his new philosophy will help unlock the full potential of the roster and propel the team to the top of the NBA list.
Brunson looks ready to start another season. Still, he might not be the biggest star on his team when all is said and done. The Knicks are one of many teams continuing to monitor Giannis Antetokounmpo’s situation in Milwaukee. As soon as a hitter wants out, New York will be there. For now, though, the team looks like a well-oiled machine.
2025-10-18 00:46:00
