New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is being looked at as an early MVP candidate for next season.
DraftKings Sportsbook gave Brunson the seventh-highest odds at +1800 to take home the Michael Jordan Trophy in 2024-25. Jeremy Brener of Fan Nation’s All Knicks laid out the odds in the top 10:
“Brunson is tied with recent NBA champion Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics for the same odds. However, Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (+1200), Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (+650), Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (+600), Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (+550), Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (+370) and reigning MVP and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (+350) all have better odds than Brunson,” Brener synthesized.
Knicks: Jalen Brunson can borrow from MVP-level showing in 2023-24 for next season
Brunson finished No. 5 in MVP voting on the previous campaign and also in the Most Improved Player of the Year race. He concluded the 2023-24 season No. 4 in scoring at 28.7 points per game. He produced 11 40-point games and nine double-doubles in his second go-round in New York.
The first-time All-Star was also an exceptional distributor, having dished out 6.7 nightly assists. He has a foundation to build upon should he strive to make his MVP case next time around.
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Brunson will have his MVP work cut out for him should Julius Randle return this summer
The Villanova product’s chances of taking home his first MVP award next season could be jeopardized by Julius Randle’s potential return. Brunson took the second-most field goal attempts in the league in 2023-24 (1,648 FGA) and missed the most (858) despite his efficient shooting. He started out scoring 26.6 points per contest on 19.5 FGA at 48 percent from the field from the season opener until Jan. 27, when Randle went down for the year with a dislocated shoulder. His numbers then jumped to 31.5 PPG on 23.9 FGA at 47.9 percent from the floor without the Kentucky product active to close out the year.
That’s not to mention that Randle struggled throughout the fall before finding his stroke in the winter. If he comes back at full strength and demands his regular share of touches, Brunson could see a downturn in scoring. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old proved that he’s one of the game’s best performers throughout all 82 games and in the playoffs. The Knicks will only go as far as he takes them next season, and another 50-plus win effort in tandem with comparable numbers could heighten his favor among MVP voters in 2024-25.