Jalen Brunson displayed sportsmanship and grace when asked about Damian Lillard securing a starting position for the East team in the upcoming NBA All-Star Game. Following the New York Knicks’ victory over the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 25, Brunson congratulated Lillard in the locker room, maintaining a composed demeanor despite the outcome.
While Brunson’s response was respectful, reactions from fans and experts have been less amicable. Many argue that Brunson deserves the starting spot over Lillard. However, fan votes, accounting for 50% of the ballot, favored Lillard, who ranked third, whereas Brunson secured the fifth position. Notably, Brunson received more votes from fellow NBA players and the media than Lillard did.
“Congrats to Damian Lillard”
Jalen Brunson when asked about Dame edging him out as an all-star starter
— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) January 26, 2024
Despite the debate, Lillard’s performance in January has not been stellar, further intensifying criticism from detractors and Brunson supporters. In this month, the 8-time NBA All-Star has averaged 23.5 points in 14 games but struggled with a 38.9 percent shooting accuracy. Over the entire 2023-24 NBA season, Lillard is maintaining an average of 25.1 points, shooting at 42.2 percent from the field.
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