Jalen Brunson’s Role With the Knicks Could Look Very Different Under Mike Brown
The New York Knicks are preparing for a new era under head coach Mike Brown, and no player may feel the changes more than Jalen Brunson. After two seasons of dominating the ball, Brunson could be asked to adjust his game in a way Knicks fans haven’t seen before.
Mike Brown Plans to Reshape the Knicks’ Offense
As reported by Stefan Bondy of the New York Post, Brown wants to inject more pace into New York’s attack while also “bringing more balance and structure to players’ roles.” For Brunson, that means a sharp departure from his ball-dominant style.
Last season, Brunson led the entire NBA in time of possession, holding the ball longer per touch than any other rotation player. He ranked first in 2023-24 as well, and second in 2022-23 behind Luka Dončić.
While Brunson has thrived as the Knicks’ offensive engine, his off-ball game remains underdeveloped. According to BBall Index, he’s never rated higher than the 19th percentile in time spent away from the ball, nor above the 40th percentile in catch-and-shoot threes per 75 possessions.
Why Brunson Can Still Adapt
Despite those tendencies, Brown doesn’t view Brunson as rigid. In his introductory press conference, he praised his new point guard’s versatility:
“A guy like Jalen gives you the flexibility to play all different types of ways.”
Brunson has already shown signs of adaptability. Over the past two seasons, he’s posted an above-average rate of cuts per 75 possessions, and last year ranked in the 71st percentile in movement points per 75 possessions.
His shooting also suggests upside as a spot-up threat. While most of his threes come off the dribble, Brunson has hit 44.7% of his catch-and-shoot triples since joining New York. Under Brown, he may be asked to leverage that efficiency more often.
The Real Problem: The Knicks’ Lack of Secondary Creators
The biggest obstacle isn’t Brunson’s willingness to adjust — it’s the roster around him.
Brunson’s ball dominance has largely been a necessity. The Knicks lack another high-level creator, as Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges are not natural playmakers off the dribble. In fact, Brunson was the only Knicks regular last season to have more than half of his baskets go unassisted. As a team, New York ranked in the 29th percentile in half-court shot creation.
That puts pressure on Brown to innovate with largely the same personnel. Additions like Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele bring versatility, but neither solves the shot-creation gap. Much of the responsibility will likely fall on Towns, who may need to share facilitation duties with Brunson in a more balanced attack.
The Bottom Line
If Mike Brown’s system works, Brunson won’t have to carry the same massive workload he has in recent years. Instead, he could evolve into a more efficient off-ball scorer while still running the show in critical moments.
And if teammates like Towns or Bridges step up as secondary playmakers, Jalen Brunson’s role with the Knicks may never be the same again.
