Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — When the New Yorks Knicks signed Jalen Brunson to a contract worth over $100 million, the deal was widely derided. Up until that time, he had played four mostly unremarkable years for the Dallas Mavericks, averaging about 12 points and 3.5 assists per game.

And this was the guy who was expected to be a major component for the Knicks’ resurgence?

Fast-forward two years later, and now the general opinion of that contract is that it’s a bargain. Brunson proceeded to have two fantastic seasons, and many are calling him the best New York point guard since Walt Frazier.

While his talent is undisputed, Brunson seems to get motivation from perpetually being discounted. For example, he wanted to stay with Dallas and would’ve signed a contract about half the value of what the Knicks offered, buy the Mavericks twice turned it down. And that may not be the only thing driving Brunson this season.

“He too small”

In December, during a discussion of the Knicks, former WNBA player Becky Hammon said she was doubtful the Knicks would be able to get to another level because they didn’t have a superstar.

“They’re well-coached, they’re going to be on their defensive game, but at the end of the day, they don’t have a dude,” she said “You gotta have a dude, you gotta have a 1A dude and they’re missing that at the end of the day.”

When Kendrick Perkins chimed in and said that Brunson was the ‘dude,’ Hammon responded: “He too small,” later adding: “If your best player is small, you’re not winning.”

Snubbed for the Olympic Team

After his first season with the Knicks, Brunson was named captain of the USA squad for the FIBA Men’s World Cup, which is the precursor for the Olympics. While the team finished a disappointing fourth, it was still set up for success in Paris later this summer.

But, unless there’s a change, Brunson won’t be a part of it. The roster was recently released, and Brunson – as well as Knicks teammate Josh Hart – isn’t on it. Brunson was magnanimous, however, in his response to getting left off, saying “I was just focused on playoffs, I didn't even look at the list.”

Little love for MVP

When the MVP points get tallied up later this year, Brunson won’t be walking away with the award. According to most pontificators, while he’s been in the discussion, there was little chance that he would get the trophy. JJ Redick, for instance, had Brunson fifth on his list. The NBA just announced the three finalists for the award, and they include Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic.

While all deserving, the big difference between those players and Brunson is that Brunson had to shoulder a huge offensive load this season. The Knicks were without three starters for long stretches, including star forward Julius Randle, who missed the second half of the season. All Brunson did was score 40 or more points 11 times (he also had a 50- and 61-point game) and carry the team to the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.

On the surface, these slights don’t seem to bother Brunson, but underneath they could sting. This means that he might have a little extra incentive this postseason, which could be very scary for the teams facing him.

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