During his inaugural All-Star weekend appearance, Jalen Brunson, the point guard for the Knicks, found himself ousted in the initial round of the 2024 Three-Point Competition held on Saturday night in Indiana.
Brunson stood out as the lone southpaw contender in the event, managing to amass a total of 24 points during his turn, narrowly missing advancement by just two points.
The prominent point guard initially struggled to find his rhythm, misfiring on five of his first six attempts from the right side. However, Brunson gradually found his stride, punctuating the second rack with a successful money ball and subsequently embarking on a streak of six consecutive shots from the top of the key.
Heading into the final rack, which he had designated as his money ball rack, Brunson seemed poised with 20 points. Yet, his momentum waned, culminating in three unsuccessful attempts to conclude the night.
Despite his commendable efforts, the Villanova alum, having enjoyed a standout season from beyond the arc, fell just short against the premier sharpshooters in the league.
Meanwhile, Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks secured a historic victory, becoming the first player since 2007-08 to clinch back-to-back titles by sinking his final shot to surpass Atlanta’s Trae Young.
Brunson joined an esteemed roster as the ninth player in franchise history to partake in the three-point contest, alongside teammates like Julius Randle and notable figures such as Steve Novak, Danilo Gallinari, Quentin Richardson, Allan Houston, Charlie Ward, Hubert Davis, and Trent Tucker.
Despite the setback, Brunson remains poised to showcase his talents on the grandest stage as he gears up for participation in the All-Star Game scheduled for Sunday night.
