Jalen Brunson’s preseason return was always going to attract attention, but the Knicks’ opening-night defeat made the conversation a little more interesting.
Brunson finished with 12 points in just 15 minutes as New York fell 120-97 to the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday. The score looked ugly, but the box score does not really tell the story of what mattered most for the Knicks.
After undergoing left wrist surgery during the offseason, Brunson was back on the court, moving freely and looking comfortable with the ball. For a team with championship expectations, that was arguably more important than the final score.
Brunson Looks Sharp In Limited Minutes
Brunson finished 4-for-8 from the field, including 2-for-5 from three-point range, while going 2-for-2 at the free-throw line.
He also added four rebounds and three assists during his 15-minute appearance.
The reigning NBA Finals MVP and the rest of New York’s starters were finished after the first half, which was always likely to be the plan for an exhibition game.
Still, there was plenty to like.
Brunson did not look as though he was protecting the wrist or struggling to get back into rhythm. He knocked down a couple of threes, attacked when the opportunity presented itself and generally looked like the same player Knicks fans have become accustomed to watching.
That is the biggest positive New York can take from the night.
The Result Was Ugly, But The Context Matters
Losing by 23 points is never particularly pleasant, especially for a team coming off a championship season.
But preseason basketball requires a little perspective.
Philadelphia won 120-97 despite being without Joel Embiid, LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey. The Knicks, meanwhile, were clearly treating the game as an opportunity to get their main players some controlled minutes rather than chase a meaningless result.
That does not mean the performance should simply be ignored.
New York shot just 38 percent from the field and an awful 8-of-41 from three-point range. That works out to only 19.5 percent from beyond the arc, and the Knicks also struggled to create consistent offensive rhythm once their starters left the floor.
Those are legitimate concerns, even if they are not reasons to panic.
Brunson’s Health Is The Real Story
For Knicks fans, the most important number from Monday might actually be 15.
That is how many minutes Brunson played.
After wrist surgery, the priority was never going to be watching him play 35 or 40 minutes in the first preseason game.
There is simply no reason to push a franchise player during an exhibition contest.
Brunson’s ability to get through the game without apparent problems was therefore much more encouraging than whether he scored 12, 20 or 30 points.
The Knicks need Brunson at his best when the games count.
They do not need him proving anything in October.
New York’s Stars Were On A Similar Schedule
Brunson was not the only major Knick on a short leash.
Karl-Anthony Towns also played 15 minutes and finished with five points, five rebounds and two assists.
OG Anunoby scored 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in 14 minutes, while Mikal Bridges played 15 minutes and contributed three points, three rebounds and three assists.
Josh Hart also saw limited action.
That tells you everything you need to know about the approach.
New York was essentially giving its starting group a brief workout before turning the game over to the players competing for rotation and roster spots.
The problem was that the 76ers had enough energy and shot-making to turn that into a blowout.
Jaylen Brown Made The Difference
Philadelphia’s Jaylen Brown was the standout performer, scoring 22 points in the first half.
That immediately created a difficult challenge for New York.
The Knicks struggled to match Philadelphia’s shooting, and once the starters were removed, the gap continued to grow.
Philadelphia finished with a significant advantage from three-point range, while New York simply could not find enough offense to make the game competitive.
For Mike Brown, there was at least one aspect of the performance that stood out enough to warrant attention.
The Knicks allowed Philadelphia to shoot 53 percent from the field and 46 percent from three-point range.
That is not the defensive standard New York will want when it gets to the regular season.
There Was One Encouraging Sign
The Knicks did not completely fall apart individually.
Brunson looked comfortable.
Anunoby was efficient.
Andre Drummond provided some useful energy off the bench, finishing with six points, five rebounds and three blocks in 12 minutes.
Landry Shamet led the second unit with 10 points, while James Wiseman contributed eight points and five rebounds in only nine minutes.
Those performances matter because New York will need more than Brunson to win games.
One of the biggest questions surrounding a championship contender is always what happens when the superstar sits.
Monday provided a reminder that New York still has work to do in that area.
Brunson Cannot Be Expected To Carry Everything
This is where I think Knicks fans should resist the temptation to overreact.
Brunson has spent the past few seasons proving that he can carry enormous offensive responsibility. But if New York wants another championship, the answer cannot simply be asking him to score more points.
The roster is supposed to be deeper now.
Towns needs to be a major offensive weapon. Anunoby has to provide two-way impact. Bridges needs to knock down shots and defend at a high level. Hart brings energy, rebounding and toughness.
The Knicks need all of those pieces working together.
Monday was not evidence that the formula is broken. It was simply the first preseason reminder that there is still plenty to sharpen.
The Next Step For Brunson
The ideal outcome for Brunson over the rest of preseason is actually pretty boring.
Get minutes.
Get comfortable.
Continue building confidence in the wrist.
Avoid unnecessary physical punishment.
Then gradually increase his workload when the coaching staff believes he is ready.
Nobody in New York should care whether Brunson averages 12 points or 25 points during preseason.
They should care about whether he is healthy when the regular season begins.
That is especially true after what he accomplished last season.
The Knicks Have Bigger Goals
A 120-97 preseason loss does not change New York’s status as a team with serious ambitions.
The Knicks are coming off an NBA championship, and expectations are naturally much higher now. Every loss will be examined differently because the standard has changed.
But this was still a preseason game.
Brunson scored 12 points, played only 15 minutes and walked away from his first exhibition appearance after wrist surgery without an apparent issue.
That is the headline Knicks fans should probably focus on.
The ugly shooting, defensive lapses and 23-point defeat are things Mike Brown and his coaching staff can work on over the coming days.
Brunson’s health is different.
If he continues looking comfortable, the Knicks have every reason to feel good about their chances of making another deep postseason run.
Monday was not about winning a preseason game.
For Brunson and the Knicks, it was about taking the first step toward being ready when the games finally matter.