TORONTO — The NBA established 65 as the key number this season for determining league awards and accolades, and Jalen Brunson officially cleared that games-played hurdle this week.
Brunson played in his 66th of the Knicks’ 72 games this season in Wednesday night’s blowout win over the Raptors, meaning he officially is eligible for MVP and All-NBA consideration.
“Definitely, when you’re available you should be able to play.
It’s always been my mindset. I haven’t really thought any other way,” Brunson, who had 26 points and seven assists, said before the game. “Obviously we’ve been banged up a lot so our availability has been limited.
“I think most guys on this team, if not all, have the mindset that if they’re good to go, they’re going to go as hard as they can and play.”
Asked if being named All-NBA is one of his goals, the first-time All-Star added, “My list of goals is private. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.”
Brunson ranks fifth in the NBA in scoring at 27.4 points per game and 14th in assists (6.4).
Several star players already have missed more than 17 games, meaning they won’t make the 65-game minimum for consideration.
That list includes Joel Embiid, Donovan Mitchell, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Ja Morant and Brunson’s teammate Julius Randle, a two-time All-NBA pick (one second-team and one third) in the previous three seasons.
The All-NBA first team is expected to consist of Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum.
But Brunson is firmly in the mix for the next five or 10 spots.
Reaching the 65-game barrier also makes Brunson eligible to sign a contract extension this summer worth up to $156.5 million over four years beginning in 2026-27.
He currently is in the second season of the four-year, $104 million deal he signed as a free agent in 2022.
“Obviously that’s a thing that you want, to obviously have security,” Brunson said. “But I’m just focusing on finishing the season, doing the best we can to make sure everyone’s back healthy and just doing my part. That’s at the forefront of my mind and I’ll worry about that stuff later.”
Former Raptors forward OG Anunoby did conditioning work, but he sat out for the fifth straight game and for the 23rd time in the last 26 with an aggravation of the right elbow injury that required surgery in February.
“Just allowing it to calm down and each day it’s a little better, but be patient, and get through it,” Tom Thibodeau said.
Anunoby and Precious Achiuwa received video tributes on the scoreboard in the first half.
Alec Burks (shoulder) missed his second straight game.
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