How Jalen Brunson’s ELITE Footwork Made Him An All-Star

Thinking Basketball analyst Ben Taylor explains how playing off two feet allows New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson to be so effective offensively.
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[@randomperson5760]

thinking basketball being the face of nba analysis👏👏

[@vlada]

TB and other analysis channels/podcasts is why cutting ESPN drama was so easy. This is excellent choice.

[@zachskeba782]

you don't know as a Knicks fan how much it means to us that we finally have a competent point guard, let alone an all-NBA all-star caliber one. we've come a long way boys but we are here now.

[@tigerhoods7927]

If anybody deserves one it’s definitely the Knicks

[@RecardoGuillermo]

After years and years of melo iso ball, this is the happiest I’ve ever been as a Knicks fan

[@Rickymh16]

@@RecardoGuillermohow do u make this about melo playing iso ball ? Weirdo

[@Laterdevon]

That’s how I feel with Indiana right now haha, jesus loves ya

[@mastergamingnic1681]

I remember when he signed that contract people were saying “way overpaid”, way to prove everyone wrong (including me) JB, carry on!

[@yrogerg123]

From "overpaid" to best contract in the NBA by a wide margin

[@BrooklynBalla]

He wouldn’t be overpaid even if he only averaged 20/6.His clutch factor and playmaking alone is worth that.

[@beastmry]

The Brunson Burner!!

[@JoeSoSick]

Shoutout to the NBA channel, some shine to Brunson. If he was on another team, you wouldn't see many hating on dude. Go Knicks!

[@austingreen1274]

Hating? Brunson is beloved league wide.

[@Larez121]

👆🏼

[@tateihuhwa9089]

Thinking basketball is peaking beautifully. I've been subbed to his channel for 2 years now, and I must say he always delivers a masterclass. I'm happy to see him getting exposure to casual fans.

[@user-jw5qj8kv2y]

Haven’t seen NYK this happy in some years! It’s all because of this guy.

[@nashones8158]

New York Knicks sell out seats even when they have the worse record and playing a bad team. With No all stars. The garden is full. Win or lose its always packed at the garden.

[@utubekebs]

And not Randle

[@Barak144]

That’s bs and I’m big on Brunson but several players and people in the franchise have paved the way for Brunson and the to succeed here. No one player can succeed in the ny market. Randle Thibs Leone Rose have been here building since day one. Anybody trying to dismiss the foundation that Randle has helped lay isn’t being real.

[@charles_austin]

One of a kind player. Mixed of an old school and modern moves. Lots of foot work fundamental

[@skillzv]

Yeah, that man footwork is God level💯

[@darckgamer382]

(read till the end) i hate when people be saying that Luka was bad for brunson when actually bruns took lot of Lukas game into his bag.. he Is one of the only PG that can finish post ups same as luka+ very poised driving and fakes defenders with shot/pass fakes or step trhoughs. bruns with his work ethick would have become a great player regardless but not aknowledging that lot of bruns game came from luka Is just silly

[@justinholland6132]

@@darckgamer382who was saying that? Also is it fair to say he got his moves from Luka? They’re very different in the post and who’s to say he didn’t know those moves before then or was taught by someone else?

[@darckgamer382]

@@justinholland6132 they are actually very similar in the post lol and if he knew those moves before he would have tried them in his First 2 seasons..... bruns started using his body the 3rd year 1 after Luka sarted mastering it and there are no other guards that could have tought him so since no pg in the league exept for Luka plays like that.... but if you want to be blind its ok buddy... i never said that Luka made bruns but bruns took lot of his game from him

[@justinholland6132]

@@darckgamer382they can do similar things but their go to moves are very different. Luka either fades or just straight up bully’s. Brunson post game is much more complex also he has. They literally showed highlights of him doing that in rookie season he’s also done it in villianova so yes I was correct. Donic didn’t teach him. Why think Luka taught it instead of a coach that helped teach both? Use common sense

[@justinholland6132]

@@darckgamer382yes I literally just looked up villnova highlights and he’s doing the exact same post moves. Gtfoh 😂😂 Luka ain’t teach nun

[@sohailien]

Respect to bulldog Brunson for working to get to this point. Working with and developing his strengths to bring something unique to the game.

[@boris2997]

Best foot work in the post he's avg 18 points in the paint which is second highest in the league

[@rs3950]

He's deceptively strong.

[@samarthbhatnagar347]

And deceptively fast too

[@byakkokan_nyc]

Him and Doncic has similar games in the post. Just a bit quicker and smaller size with Doncic getting and looking for contact and Brunson getting in and working around contact. Awesome footwork!

[@jingqi9106]

The one small guard that I can think of that could create space in the lane with his moves was Nate "Tiny" Archibald. He also used next level footwork to score in the paint and got so good at it that he even lead the NBA in points AND assists one year. Injuries reduced is ability but Tiny is an all-time great and mastered the art of footwork.

[@TheMrMasterChief12]

This is so inspirational man and I'm glad he's being highlighted with this much detail. Playing this way at an all NBA level takes so much work man. Any hooper knows

[@djpanaligan1775]

Thank you so much for this Brunson skill set highlight! Brunson is definitely the best underdog story in the NBA right now, from being tag as an overpayed guard, now to an all star! this explains why he's so fun to watch!

[@ritchierich2793]

Nice work, been a fan of thinking basketball.. great recognition here..

[@zygo.gumapac1699]

In terms of playstyle, I see him like young Messi from European Football, small but crafty with his moves and even more dangerous in the box (or the paint in basketball terms). This is a great analysis!

[@RamonAcosta191]

This comment right here is on point!

[@vlada]

The analogy is IT, Iverson or original IT. Little guys are common in soccer (Maradona being one of many). Smaller point guards that succeed in NBA are not.

[@vaughansealey5656]

Yeah he shoots a half step before you’d expect him to, exactly how messi always finds goals out of nothing… Also overloading his defenders brain with so many feints is a technique mma fighters use too… so much to be learned about the human brain in sports!

[@codylilley2668]

Its not European Football. Its Football, real football. Worldwide

[@wecanjump7512]

@@vlada Iverson was a wildly inefficient scorer who's game was largely based on athleticism. Brunson plays nothing like Iverson.

[@Ataraxia_Atom]

100% love brunsens game, his handles, his demeanor and hard working attitude. Happy to see Jalen getting the recognition he deserves. Hope the Knicks rock some upsets in the postseason

[@cvnyouseeit]

He wears them Kobe’s for a reason, footwork destruction on them bomboclots 🐍🕺🏾🏀

[@Drakahn]

New York got them one fr, jus continue to build around him

[@DaquanTheWalrus]

Brunson plays basketball a lot like a football receiver runs routes, tons of body language and shifting of weight. Art.

[@mymountrushmore6235]

As a Knicks fan he brings a tear to my eye.

[@MarsXpdtion]

So happy for this exposure opportunity the NBA gives you, you deserve it!

[@michaelyoon9355]

He's got good post moves!

[@michaelyoon9355]

He doesn't waste any movement, every movement leads to something.

[@coleman254]

Ayyye this is absolutely huge!! Been loving thinking basketball for a long time now it’s great to see him get his flowers and work with the nba!

[@tonytooshort]

So happy this man's getting all this love and attention! We love guys who do a lot with a little. And this man has worked his A*SS off to get where he is!

[@Lemon_Drums_USA]

This is just gorgeous.

[@jonathanadam8344]

i could possibly not like a youtube video more than this one 😂 thank you ben

[@tonytooshort]

Such a dawg. Made me fall in love w my team again! 🐶

[@BonafideJas]

My son will be watching Jalen Brunson

[@Mreyna06218]

Shout out Thinking Basketball for making to the NBA channel! Been a fan for a while.

[@jdrmanmusiqking]

Shout out to the channels like this who bring positivity and information to the NBA landscape ❤️ There been so much negative discourse around today's game from the casual channels thats its hard to watch any of my old bball KZbinrs I dont care about which era was better and i don't need to constantly degrade and insult the current game and players for some sick "in-group gratification" There are problems with today's game of course but construction criticism is needed not spewing absolute hatred and disrespect toward players who work hard

[@alexfang6784]

I found Gobert flummoxed trying to guard JB at 6:48 so funny.

[@callidawkins85]

this getting added to my favorites

[@GFS695]

Amazing player, dont sleep on the speed, hes very quick.

[@neerajnandakumar7638]

been expecting a brunson footwork video and its finally here.

[@adambohbot1979]

I'm Jalen Brunson's number one fan

[@Sirmanwiththeplan]

no ME

[@Tonybaloney14]

Ever since I watched him play a decent amount of minutes, I fell in-love with his game, then when he got that 40 piece against Jazz, everyone did as well.

[@JForcE777]

He high fives Luka😂8:17

[@viclizardi6152]

Well done analysis

[@Rodxyou]

Jalen Brunson is the most underrated NBA all-star. Most NBA experts fail to see 👀 true "NBA Superstar" If Brunson win the NBA championship, everybody will see the light. 🕯️🌈🌠

[@vlada]

He's called a star because there are better point guards on league.

[@cactusand3310]

FINALLY a thinking basketball video having to do with the Knicks! I thought the day would never come.

[@daviddiallo480]

he's TUFF

[@wecanjump7512]

This is what I love about basketball. To the average fan, Anthony Edwards looks like twice the player that Brunson is. But Brunson's knowledge makes him the better scoring and more efficient guard. Nice breakdown.

[@EtiandroRosa]

Man seeing Brunson evolution is something else! Also without dreadlocks 😆

[@jdrum208]

Let’s go Ben!

[@brycehawes38]

Idk much about boxing but the metaphor is still very good. I’d compare it to adesanya vs periera, Izzy doesn’t have the size, length, power or explosiveness to match but after 3 losses he put together a great game plan and used superior technique to win the 4th fight

[@bobfromaccounting3243]

I see we just forgot about Tony Parker doing this so well he had the best paint efficiency and most points in the paint a couple of years in his prime.

[@chrisstfort7]

I think they both have excellent footwork. Parker did more of his damage all the way to the cup while Brunson utilized more floaters and mid range jumpers.

[@bobfromaccounting3243]

​@@chrisstfort7I think Parker did more floaters, tbh, but I agree with you for the most part, and am not trying to take anything away from Brunson who is excellent. However, saying he's the best to do it, or the only one to have such great footwork in the paint / midrange, is silly. Parker perfected the tear drop floater, and had a deadlier midrange later in his career. He spent that summer working on his shot and came back as a midrange assassin afterward, and even knocked down the three much more efficiently than he'd ever done before. I think this has to be recency bias calling him the best. But he might be the best of this generation at playing so crafty in the paint.

[@chrisstfort7]

@@bobfromaccounting3243 No doubt Parker’s float game was lethal too. He was faster than Brunson as well. Not as great a shooter but was better with layups and that was back in an era with more bigs. Add to that championships and a finals MVP. Brunson has a long way to go to reach Parker’s career accomplishments. I do think there’s some recency bias but I think Brunson, SGA, and Parker are on the same level in terms of elite footwork. Paul Pierce was up there too (and I’m a Knicks fan). Harden has excellent footwork as well. D Wade, Melo, Kobe..the list goes on. Bigs like Hakeem, Jokic, Dirk were incredibly nimble.

[@realjcoop182]

Parker is another one but Brunson is more bulky and bullying. TP was finesse and skilled. Watched them both and use some of their stuff

[@aurigio2543]

Wow it's Thinking Basketball! Good stuff NBA

[@phillytallguy3894]

Thought I was watching Thinking Basketball! W 🏆

[@Kidkinsey]

Jalen brunsons iso game is honestly insane. He’s so herky jerky

[@joshb.1118]

Great job Ben and the Thinking Basketball team. If y'all don't subscribe, do so. It's the best basketball analysis content.

[@13thspartansneaker]

Let's GO Knicks ☝️☝️☝️ Jalen Brunson MVP 👊👊

[@t0astz]

congrats!!

[@user-hu2ed8oe8m]

The balance is super impressive. It legit seems like hes never pushed off his spots.

[@t4d0W]

I think that is one of his most impressive traits besides his elite footwork. Even when he is moving in a way to 'fake' taking a shot or he's settled on taking an off balance floater or jumper with a defender on him, he's got the contact balance to still push through his motion.

[@kevkeisha]

SGA and Brunson has the same combat master!😳

[@triggeredtrey]

Brunson and Luka are both ball dominant playmakers, they don’t mesh well, cuban chose his franchise player and allowed Brunson to find a home and carry it, just shows how good the Dallas’ front office eye for talent.

[@bradpeterson9689]

Bro that's not at all what happened. The Mavs undervalued him. They could've had this All-NBA talent for 11 million a year but they thought he wasn't worth that much money.

[@t4d0W]

@@bradpeterson9689 Brunson already went off the record saying he asked the Mavs FO for an extension worth 55m/4yrs. The key thing is if the Mavs did that they cannot trade Brunson for the season. Cuz the Mavs only saw him as trade bait anyway. Plus Brunson saw his improved play and valued himself higher than what he initially asked. He was right on the money because even with the politicking with his dad, the Knicks wanted to scoop him for 104m/4yrs. Mavs tried to have their cake and eat it too but got cake on their face instead.

[@bradpeterson9689]

@t4d0W so basically the Mav didn't value Brunson; same thing I just said

[@kauffmann101]

Eventually , its win win for both when we look back

[@iamjewelz_1363]

No, they lost Brunson for nothing. Could have had him at half the cost. Front Office made a huge mistake (even if they didn’t want him on the team moving forward) they let him walk in free agency. Should have at least sign and traded him for a return as apposed to getting nothing for him leaving the team.

[@Tylerjms7]

Dang bro you made it! NBA official channel. 🎉

[@tahirflint75]

Jalen Brunson is a throwback elite

[@schuylersavage276]

This is a person who has mastered THEIR own individual craft. He has played like this since HS, to a degree! Now it’s perfected and the best parts of his game are spammed over and over and over. I love seeing players who play to their strengths. And Brunson takes that to a whole new level. I was praying for him to come to my team when I watched him as a rookie in Dallas and on. He had a rare ability to get a shot that he has a great chance to make EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Not a lot of players can. I watch Tatum daily and he can’t. He has some periods where he is forced to put up an ugly shot that has no chance. Not because he is less skilled than Brunson, but because he clearly plays to his strengths less and understands the perfection of his own game less.

[@peykashoe]

I wish D Rose played like this. 😢

[@peykashoe]

Thinking Basketball now, Im just waiting on Jxmy.

[@lawbinson]

Brunson is the most skilled Knicks player in history.

[@mikeyork9293]

Hes left handed. He's like every crafty left handed ball player ive ever played against 😅

[@nycbaby_8743]

Let’s Go Knicks we’ll be back healthy and better 🔵🟠🗣

[@malycw7903]

The gather step rule fits his game perfectly.

[@macaron3141592653]

I hope this guy lasts a LONG time in the NBA. He's not pushing himself to the limit like prime D-Rose did, so bad injuries seem unlikely. He could sustain this level of play for another 14 years.

[@dkarmusic5424]

Definitely not 14 years as he’s already 27. I could see another 5 to 8 years. 10 max.

[@Luka77Legend]

I say til 35 so bout 7 to 8 years​@@dkarmusic5424

[@meditationkings6025]

thinking basketball has made it !

[@chucktalksball974]

He’s the modern version of Deron William

[@injusticeanywherethreatens4810]

Finally Thinking Basketball being the main analyst for the nba's videos. He actually knows what numbers and percentages are , unlike most of the people as espn

[@AlanHayesVCP]

NBA is smart to integrate this content into their portfolio Thinking Basketball was something they were missing

[@sessahme]

Jalen should be liking this video.

[@chuchuchuchia]

Crazy how in two seasons he ascended from "pretty good microwave scorer" to "probably the best guard after Luka and SGA"

[@marvdatboi]

*Brunshim.*

[@Isaiah11823]

🔥🔥🔥

[@blu.direction]

The kinda moves you'd try to do on 2k... Hard though

[@benw7367]

I'm cool with the gather step. I mean i would rather it be tapered back some but i get it. But that hop step into a pivot? I understand it. But it is a bridge too far for me

[@soulcleaner3578]

Thinking Basketball is great

[@mungoblizzard6114]

Double tap.. aka goose step

[@BloxyDe]

W jalen

[@karthikwhy]

8:17 did brunson just dap luka up mid play??

[@bdotkakarot794]

All nba him

[@MIERSSOCIETYTV]

Stone Cold Killer 🥶 #KnicksNationNoMatterWhat

[@khaledgee]

NBA Champion 🏆 and USA Gold Medal Immediately Him and Josh Hart

[@Hobo613]

hopefully all that mileage won’t put him on ice to slow his career down, like so many pgs of yore also, im curious to see how those effective moves work on guys that are in foul trouble as well in order to exploit them further

[@Master-Wanderer]

He learned the step back step through up and under from Luka for sure

[@CovertGhoul]

It'd be interesting to see the evolution of dribbling versus the evolution of officiating dribbling over the past 75+ years... Dallas letting him go was so weird.

[@IanMadridPh]

Cuban losing JB Doncic duo feels no different when he lost Nash Nowitzki duo history repeats itself

[@rayneozier]

I’ve said for a while that JB has the best footwork in the game

[@skibxskatic]

1:06 NOT traveling wasn't the important part of this move. landing on two feet means he doesn't establish a pivot foot, so he could've taken a step with either his left or right.

[@fabzgotit]

So cool. What else can I say

[@chuchuchuchia]

Man I need some footwork lessons from this guy

[@viencinzoblitz1399]

He will win the Knicks a championship

[@amit212543]

Nice

[@leandrae-6269]

❤

[@MIERSSOCIETYTV]

He's gonna kill like this for another 10 seasons or more 😹😹👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@stxcks23]

He’s 27 let’s hope

[@MIERSSOCIETYTV]

@@stxcks23 With a game that isn't built of athleticism, he has multiple skill sets, that type of game is built to last in the NBA.

[@Aaron-nm1ob]

His floater game has been absolutely cash since season 2

[@kevinsommers0704]

JALEN Brunson footwork is equivalent to Kyrie Irvins handle

[@realjcoop182]

Its funny the best football channel is also called "thinking football"