3 goals for Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson in 2022-23

Goal No. 2: Average a career-high in assists

Instead of putting a number on how many assists Brunson should try to average, this goal should be for Brunson to continue to improve his ability to lead an NBA offense.

Last season, Brunson made a new career-high in assists per game, averaging just shy of five. He did that on a Mavericks team that features Luka Doncic, who finished the season fifth in assists per game.

If Julius Randle is still on the Knicks in October, Brunson will be in a similar position, as Randle is a non-traditional playmaking big who puts up some big numbers as a passer.

However, New York didn’t sign Brunson to play second-fiddle in the playmaking department. The Knicks finished dead last in the Association in assists per game last season. They also finished 30th the year before. The last time New York had a point guard who averaged at least five assists per game for consecutive seasons was when Raymond Felton was in town.

The biggest thing the Knicks are looking for out of Brunson’s game is consistency as a playmaker. Sure, Elfrid Payton had a very solid season setting up teammates three years ago. Other guys have come in for a single year and put up nice numbers by finding guys for buckets.

But Brunson was signed to do this for the long-term, not just as a filler as management searches for the next guy. Brunson is that next guy.