May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) during the third quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Jalen Brunson will serve as captain of the New York Knicks in the 2024-25 season.
The team announced the appointment, making the guard the 36th captain in franchise history, on Tuesday. He is the first captain for the Knicks since Lance Thomas (2018-19).
“The New York Knicks have a deep and storied history and today we are immensely proud to add to that lineage by naming Jalen Brunson as our captain,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a news release. “Jalen is a natural born leader, and I am confident he will continue to represent our organization, fans, city and his teammates with the same heart, grit and class that he has displayed each and every day since he came to New York.”
Brunson, who turns 28 later this month, was named to the 2024 NBA All Star team to highlight his second season with the Knicks.
He averaged 28.7 points, 6.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds over 35.4 minutes in 77 games (all starts) in the 2023-24 season. Brunson finished fifth in MVP voting.
In his time in New York, the Knicks are 97-67 — the most wins in consecutive seasons since the team reached a combined 98 wins in the 1999-2000 and 2000-01 campaigns.
In the 2024 NBA playoffs, Brunson averaged 32.4 points, 7.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 13 games. He became the first player in NBA history to score at least 40 ponts and dish out at least five assists in four consecutive playoff games.
–Field Level Media
