Jalen Brunson #11 of the Latest York Knicks reacts throughout the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers during game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs on the Wells Fargo Center on April 28, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK — The Latest York Knicks have chosen Jalen Brunson as their captain, the team’s first in six years.
Brunson quickly became considered one of the team’s leaders after arriving in 2022 and on Tuesday was chosen because the thirty sixth captain in franchise history. The Knicks hadn’t had one since Lance Thomas within the NBA 2018-19 season.
Knicks President Leon Rose called Brunson a “natural born leader,” adding in a press release that he was confident the All-Star guard would “proceed to represent our organization, fans, city and his teammates with the identical heart, grit and sophistication that he has displayed each and each day since he got here to Latest York.”
READ: NBA: Jalen Brunson agrees to four-year extension with Knicks
Brunson has led the Knicks to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs in each his seasons after coming from Dallas. He averaged 28.7 points last season, earning his first All-Star nod and ending fifth in voting for the NBA MVP award.
Brunson becomes the fourth second-round pick to be Knicks captain. That list is headlined by Willis Reed, the Hall of Fame center who was nicknamed “The Captain” for his leadership.
