It looks like Jalen Brunson will be getting right to work with the New York Knicks. We now have the 2022-2023 NBA schedule in our grasp! In his first 10 days, Brunson will have his hands full.
New York will visit the young and exciting Memphis Grizzlies on opening night. Two nights later, they start their three-game home stint with the Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Charlotte Hornets coming to town. Then, the Knickerbockers hit the road again to face the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Jalen will have to be on his toes.
He must face an All-Star/All-NBA player in Ja Morant, the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s NBA draft in Cade Cunningham, budding point guard Cole Anthony, All-Star guard LaMelo Ball, an NBA Champion and Olympic gold medalist in Jrue Holiday, and another young All-Star guard in Darius Garland. Three All-Stars, one champion, and two young stars that have shown they can produce at this level. I hope that Brunson will be ready.
6 guards that will challenge Jalen Brunson in his first games with the Knicks
Ja Morant
Ja Morant is coming off one of the most exciting seasons that fans have seen an individual have. He was a first-time All-Star, won the NBA Most Improved Player Award, and almost beat the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals. Who knows what would’ve happened if he didn’t get hurt. After all, they did win by 50 one game, just saying.
Ja is an exciting young man, and his team is on the rise to becoming a Western Conference powerhouse.
Last season, the Grizzlies and Mavericks faced off four times, but Ja only played in two. Morant didn’t play in the first game while Brunson started for the Mavericks and had 15 in a loss. In the second game, Brunson came off the bench but logged the second most minutes on the team behind Luka Doncic with 34. He scored 10 points in a win as Morant didn’t play again.
In the third game, Ja finally suited up while Brunson started alongside Doncic. Jalen scored 15 points to go with nine assists while shooting over 50% in a win. Brunson was also a +12 while Morant scored 19 and was a -4 on the court.
In their final matchup, Morant exploded for 35 points and 13 rebounds but had seven turnovers as the Grizzlies fell to the Mavericks for the third straight time. Brunson started again and scored 13 points, going perfect at the free throw stripe.
This year, RJ Barrett will be by his side, not Luka. It will be interesting to see how Brunson performs.