Charles Barkley on Jalen Brunson: Probably one of the best FA picks in NBA history

Michael Scotto: New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić have been named the Kia NBA February Players of the Month. -via Twitter @MikeAScotto / March 2, 2023

“The ball was going in the hoop,” Brunson said sheepishly when this 142-118 thrashing of the Nets was complete. “I can’t really explain it.” Yes. The ball was going in the hoop. Brunson took 18 shots Wednesday night. He made 15 of them. He was 5-for-6 from 3. The Knicks knew they were getting an awfully good player when they signed him last July. They didn’t know they were getting this. “When a player plays like that,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said, “the scoring is impressive. To me, what’s more impressive is fighting the double team and getting the ball out quickly.” -via New York Post / March 2, 2023

If either DeRozan or Brown is ruled out for the All-Star Game, then Brunson will be the next logical choice. I mean, he should be, right? For his part, the Knicks star says that he will jump on the opportunity if he was given the chance to do so: “If I was ever invited, that’s an honor I couldn’t pass up,” Brunson said, via Stefan Bondy of the Daily News. “But hope for his health and everybody that’s deserving. I said this past couple weeks, I control what I can control. That’s all that matters to me.” -via Clutch Points / February 16, 2023

“Most definitely. Because at this point, they’re saying, go play with Scoot Henderson and win a championship and then we’ll give you credit,” Durant told Yahoo Sports. “I don’t need no credit from y’all, no credit from [Barkley], no credit from Shaq. Y’all don’t ever have to watch me play ever again, don’t talk about me if you don’t [rock] with me. I’m not gonna stop doing what I do. Everybody has their opinions, man. It’s not gonna stop me and how I approach the game. “As far as leading a team, I don’t need to coach no team. Whatever happens, we do it together. [Monty’s] the leader, he’s the coach. The GM puts the team together. I’m supposed to go out and hoop. That’s my job.” -via Yahoo! Sports / March 2, 2023

Chuck doubts the French unicorn’s potential to dominate the NBA since day one, as Michael Jordan or LeBron James did. “Everybody wants this kid and he looks like he’s great, but you really can’t tell until he gets to the NBA,” Barkley said on Inside the NBA, co-hosted by him, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson. Barkley continued his rant after Kenny praised Wembanyama for shooting and dribbling abilities. “I don’t agree with all that, I think it’s going to be a huge adjustment. The physicality… I think it’s more physical than him playing against the Czech Republic,” Barkley referred to the last FIBA World Cup European Qualifiers game where Wembanyama led France with an impressive stat line of 22 points, 17 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 steals, 6 blocks, and 34 EFF. -via BasketNews / February 26, 2023

“I don’t know the answer to that,” Barkley responded and then talked about the number of players who were compared to Michael Jordan and did not live up to it. “He is the next this, he is the next that. Like, how many people did Michael Jordan kill? We’ve been for the last 40 years like, ‘Well, he is the next Michael Jordan.’ And we never had another one. We killed like Howard Miner, Roy Marble, like all these guys. “I want to see the kid [Wembanyama] play, I hope he is great. I can’t sit now here just because he is killing people over in the Czech Republic that he is going to come over here and dominate. I just don’t believe,” Barkley emphasized. -via BasketNews / February 26, 2023