"We need to go through this process again": Jalen Brunson asks for calm with the Knicks' expectations

The Knicks start the 2025/26 season with the label of being one of the two most powerful teams in the East. However, Jalen Brunson does not want that external perception to translate into excessive confidence within the locker room. In an interview with Games Hub, the point guard made it clear that the road to the top must be traveled again, step by step.

“I hope we don't have the mindset of automatically returning to the Conference Finals. We need to go through this process again, keep improving, and fight to overcome that obstacle,” pointed out Brunson.

New York retains the core of the group that was just two wins away from reaching the NBA Finals last season. Management has opted to strengthen the bench depth with impactful names like Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele, in addition to other pieces fighting for a spot in the training camp. This is complemented by a significant change on the sidelines: the arrival of Mike Brown replacing Tom Thibodeau. The new coach is known for his ability to rotate and trust more in the second unit, an adjustment that could be decisive in a long season.

Brunson values the work of the front office and, above all, the cohesion of the group as the main drivers of growth. “I think we have been taking steady steps forward every year. The best thing about this team is the chemistry we have built. Many people tell us we need experience, and this is precisely that: going through the trials and tribulations of being a good team. We must continue and see how we can overcome the next obstacle,” he expressed.

The point guard was clear: success will not depend on a single signing or isolated adjustment. “It will require all of us. It won't be about a small change, but about all of us putting everything aside and pulling together in the same direction.”

The importance of Towns in the new project

Brunson also had words of praise for Karl-Anthony Towns, whose arrival last year transformed the New York offense. The Dominican-American center excelled to be included in the All-NBA Third Team, and now enters his second season at Madison Square Garden without the adaptation curve that his trade from Minnesota entailed.

“It's been very fun to have him as a teammate,” Brunson highlighted. “His greatness as a teammate often goes unnoticed. Beyond what he does on the court, his contribution in the locker room is special. He's incomparable: shoots with tremendous ease, can create plays, and has a great touch near the hoop. He has taken styles from various players and made them his own.”

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