Jalen Brunson introduced as Knicks captain before unsurprisingly talking like perfect leader
Jalen Brunson was formally introduced as the 36th captain of the Knicks on Thursday, a move that many around the team and the fanbase would see as just that: a formality.
Anyone who has watched the Knicks for the past two seasons could make the observation that the former second-round pick has been the team's heart and soul, the leader both on and off the court, and the embodiment of what has become a lovable Knicks squad with an identity of grit, toughness, and maximum effort.
Still, the Knicks rightfully felt that Brunson was deserving of becoming the first team captain since Lance Thomas five years ago, and at Thursday's press conference, Brunson reminded everyone why he was the perfect choice to be the face of what the Knicks hope to be the next era of consistent success.
After being honored by former legendary captains in New York sports, from Derek Jeter to Mark Messier and David Wright, Brunson took the podium himself and talked like a seasoned captain, and didn't have to change a thing about how he has portrayed himself since arriving in Gotham.
"To be named captain, that never really crossed my mind," Brunson said. "The only thing I try to focus on is how to help my team win. When you win as a team, it helps everyone else individually. That's just been my mindset through it all.
"I'm gonna keep saying it until I'm blue in the face. I'm honored."
It is the same kind of talk New York fans heard from Jeter for two decades, and Wright for years in Queens. Some might say the constant refrains border on boring, but for stars like Brunson, it is simply a reflection of the never-ending mindset of reaching the pinnacle with the group around him, which represents the exact DNA needed in a captain.
If Brunson and "captain" weren't already being used in the same sentence after his torrid playoff performance this past spring, they became synonymous after he turned down roughly $130 million next season to sign a more team-friendly extension this summer, allowing the Knicks the financial flexibility to build a winning roster around their star point guard in the years to come. Again, Brunson spoke like a natural captain when asked about the decision, pointing to the ultimate goal of winning, and winning in New York.
"I think anyone who knows me knows what I'm about…I think about every decision I make, and I am completely comfortable with what I've done," Brunson said. "Obviously, I'm well off, myself and my family, we're obviously well off. That's first and foremost. I want to win, and I want to win here.
"I secured I think a decent amount of money to secure myself and my family…in the current time. Didn't have to wait a year. A lot can happen in a year…like I said, I would love to be here. I want to be here for the rest of my career. Winning trumps everything that I do individually. When you win as a team, individuals can grow from that, and everyone can eat from that. That's the thing that's on my mind at all times."
Brunson has already shown in the past that he simply gets it when it comes to being in the New York spotlight. From the emphasis on winning and disinterest in personal accolades, he has shown that he wasn't just "born to play basketball," as Knicks TV announcer Mike Breen famously said last season, but Brunson is also born to lead.
