The New York Knicks have built a championship-caliber roster around franchise player Jalen Brunson. With a productive co-star in Karl-Anthony Towns and a top-tier starting lineup rounded out by high-level wings, Brunson has the Knicks on the cusp of greatness.
Unfortunately, the Knicks' franchise player will miss at least the next two weeks with a sprained right ankle that he suffered against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Brunson rolled his ankle late in the loss to Los Angeles. He had 39 points and 10 assists at the time that the injury occurred. The immediate response was a sense of shock and uncertainty, with many questioning how New York could find a way to temporarily replace their superstar.
According to Shams Charania of ESPN, Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau only needed one sentence to summarize the reality of Brunson's absence.
"You don't replace a guy like him individually."
That's the unfortunate truth that the Knicks will have to find a way to work around—and it's about more than what the supporting cast is capable of.
Tom Thibodeau says Knicks can't replace Jalen Brunson with one player
Brunson is one of the very best players in the NBA, combining pristine shot selection with top-tier production, top-10 facilitating numbers, and a knack for stepping up in the clutch. He's as efficient as he is ruthless, showing an uncanny ability to bend a game to his will despite standing at just 6'2" and 190 pounds.
That's been reflected in Brunson's otherworldly averages of 26.3 points, 7.4 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 steal, and 2.3 three-point field goals made on .490/.384/.825 shooting.
Just four games played away from being eligible for the honor, Brunson should receive a second straight All-NBA nod in 2024-25. Unfortunately, replacing a player who performs at an All-NBA level is a challenge that no team is adequately equipped to take on.
New York is more than talented enough to win the occasional game without Brunson, but replacing their best player and go-to clutch scorer will be no easy feat.
Perhaps Miles McBride will step up, providing production from the backcourt that ensures Brunson's injury isn't a net loss. It's just as possible that Towns will take his game to another level, taking over in his own way to create new avenues for the Knicks to follow.
No matter what transpires, however, Thibodeau's comments epitomize the harsh reality facing the Knicks: No one player will be able to fill Brunson's shoes.
New York needs to step up as a team, figure out who they are without Brunson on the court, and embrace the new mentality. Temporary as it may be, that commitment to a sustainable solution could be the difference between losing ground in the standings and achieving stability.
The Knicks won't be themselves until Brunson is back on the court, but a group effort could mitigate the struggles that could be in their future.