Jalen Brunson has been sensational to start the season. He has propelled the New York Knicks into fourth place in the Eastern Conference and recently helped them reach the NBA Cup quarterfinals with a home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Brunson once again carried the scoring load, erupting for 37 points to lead New York to a 118–109 win. After the game, head coach Mike Brown offered high praise for the two-time All-Star, insisting Brunson deserves to be firmly in the MVP conversation.
Mike Brown Wants Jalen Brunson MVP Chatter
Brunson has been on a tear to open the season, averaging 29.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game while shooting 48.7% from the field and 38% from beyond the arc. He delivered another standout performance on Friday night to help New York advance to the NBA Cup playoffs.
JALEN BRUNSON TONIGHT
37 POINTS
5 ASSISTS
12-21 FG
4-6 3P
WE GOING TO VEGAS
— Teg🚨 (@IQfor3) November 29, 2025
The Bucks held a one-point edge after a tightly contested first half, but Brunson seized control in the third quarter. He poured in 16 of the Knicks’ 31 points in the period, going 6-of-7 from the floor and pushing New York ahead.
Brunson added only six points in a relatively quiet final frame, but his most important basket came late on an and-one layup that stretched the Knicks’ lead to six with less than 90 seconds remaining.
Brunson ultimately outdueled two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, finishing with a game-high 37 points on 12-of-21 shooting and 4-of-6 from deep, along with five assists. After the win, the 29-year-old PG drew heavy praise from his teammates and especially coach Brown, who openly lobbied for MVP consideration despite it still being early in the season.
“There’s not enough chatter,” he said. “It’s early, so I’m not throwing a fit, but the guy had 37 tonight on 12-of-21 (shooting), and he gets blitzed often, and he makes the right play — he did what he’s supposed to do, and that’s why we don’t talk about it because that’s what he’s capable of.
“But hopefully you guys will start talking the right way about this young man in terms of him having some MVP talk because that’s what he is. We’re not playing the best basketball right now, but we’re trending in the right direction and he’s the engine behind it, so to me he did what he’s supposed to do which equates to him being the MVP.”
“He should be talked about right now, and it’s early, but as a potential MVP.”
– Mike Brown on Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/gUZ1RjSkxt
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) November 29, 2025
Brunson joined the Knicks in 2022 and has reached new heights in New York, earning both of his All-Star selections since arriving. He helped lead the franchise to a Conference Semifinals run last season, and with stars like Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges alongside him, the Knicks appear poised for another deep postseason push.