Jalen Brunson entered the postseason with a clear message about how the Knicks reached this point and what must carry forward into their first-round matchup against the Hawks.
“I think the entire season from start to finish trended upward,” Brunson said Wednesday. “We obviously had highs… certain points where it was a low for us but overall we got better throughout the year and that’s what’s most important.”
The All-Star guard, who averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists in 74 games, framed New York’s 53-win season around growth rather than results. “That’s what we strive for, making sure we’re on the same page, getting to know each other and trying to click,” he said. “Things take time… it was a good process and I enjoy the process.”
Brunson repeatedly stressed that daily habits define playoff readiness. “We want to win which is very important for us but our approach matters and how we attack that goal every day is really important,” he said. “So regardless it’s important for us to just focus on one day at a time.”
That mindset extends to handling pressure and expectations. “Yes it’s tough. Yes there’s times where there’s ups and downs and self doubt creeps in,” Brunson said. “But this is something that I enjoy doing… so I embrace the opportunity.”
The point guard also pointed to chemistry, particularly with Karl-Anthony Towns, who averaged 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds. “The longer we’re together the more chemistry we have,” Brunson said. “It’s been great being able to work with him and understand him and figure out what best puts us both in position to be successful.”
Atlanta’s versatility remains a central concern entering Game 1 on Saturday. “I think most importantly they’re very well coached,” Brunson said. “They have a lot of pieces. They’re good. They make good adjustments… they’ve been playing great and we’ll have to be ready for the challenge.”
Despite the scouting report, Brunson described the series in simple terms. “Right now on Wednesday this whole matchup is basically on paper,” he said. “We got to go out there and just do what we do… it’s going to take one game at a time and it’s not going to be easy whatsoever.”
Preparation and repetition remain his foundation. “My routine consists of obviously getting my work in,” he said. “My confidence comes from my work ethic and that hasn’t changed since I’ve been dribbling a basketball.”
Internally, the Knicks are leaning on continuity. “There’s a lot of things that go on that you guys don’t see,” Brunson said. “We want to keep everything in-house… we’re all we got no matter what.”
That belief, Brunson added, is unchanged entering the playoffs. “I have a lot of confidence in us… I have the utmost confidence in them.”
