After a tremendous first season in the Big Apple, Jalen Brunson finished third in voting for the 2022-23 NBA Most Improved Player on Monday night.
Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen took home the award with 69 first-place votes, 27 second-place votes, and three third-place votes for a total of 430 points.
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished second with a total of 289 points. Brunson received just four first-place votes, 11 second-place votes, and 38 third-place votes for a total of 91 points.
Some labeled the Knicks’ four year, $104 million deal with the point guard an overpay, but he quickly set out to prove them wrong. With his confidence and leadership, Brunson carried the Knicks back to the postseason.
When the Knicks needed a big play, Brunson was their guy time after time. He appeared in 68 games and averaged a career-high 24 points and 6.2 assists per game. The Villanova product also reeled in 3.5 rebounds per game and shot 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from behind the arc.
Brunson has been tremendous so far in the postseason as well. Through four games he has the Knicks up 3-1 in the series over the Cavaliers and is averaging 24.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and five assists.
Perhaps finishing last in MIP voting will add just a little more fuel to the fire when Brunson and the Knicks take the court looking to clinch a spot in the second round Tuesday night in Cleveland.
