Steve Nash says Jalen Brunson stands out because of one trait above everything else: his will to win.
“Last year he was the Clutch Player of the Year, and for me that starts with how badly he wants to win.”
“Everybody talks about the shot-making, but what I love is how smart he is with his body.”
“He plays off two feet, has incredible touch, and gets shots off at awkward timings defenders can’t predict.”
“It’s not a floater, not a layup, not a runner. It’s just a unique shot on the move.”
“As a defender, you can’t time it because you never know when he’s going to release it.”
“He’s also elite at cutting defenders off and controlling space.”
“He gets in front of you, stops the game, and forces the defense to react to him.”
“Once he creates that pocket of space, he’s asking the defense: ‘Who’s going to come guard this?’”
“If someone helps, he already knows where the next pass is.”
“He’s great at turning small advantages into big ones and making the defense play on his terms.”