At simply 6’2″, Jalen Brunson has carved out a status as a fearless driver, leveraging his quickness and distinctive footwork to attract contact from defenders.
But within the New York Knicks’ current battle with the Boston Celtics, one thing uncommon occurred—Brunson didn’t try a single free throw.
This shocking growth caught numerous consideration, particularly for a participant who’s usually labeled a “flopper” or “foul hunter.”
Invoice Simmons of The Ringer just lately provided a spicy tackle Brunson’s taking part in type, including gas to the continued debate.
Throughout a current episode of “The Invoice Simmons Podcast,” Simmons didn’t maintain again, declaring that Jalen Brunson has grow to be “the preeminent flopper within the NBA.”
“He’s flopping on picks. He’s flopping coming off screens. He’s flopping when any person bumps into him on a drive. He’s flopping for fees. I feel he’s the whole bundle. It was a few of the greatest flopping I’ve seen,” Simmons mentioned.
Invoice Simmons says that Jalen Brunson has grow to be “the preeminent flopper within the NBA”
“He’s flopping on picks, flopping coming off screens, flopping when somebody bumps into him on a drive, he’s flopping for fees… I feel he’s the whole bundle” pic.twitter.com/wiFwTFCooZ
— KnicksMuse (@KnicksMuse) February 24, 2025
In Simmons’ view, Brunson has mastered the artwork of promoting contact all through the sport—whether or not he’s drawing offensive fouls, exaggerating bumps whereas driving to the basket, or promoting contact on screens and fees.
Whereas gamers like James Harden and Trae Younger as soon as dominated this facet of the sport, rule adjustments and the pure getting older course of could have diminished their effectiveness.
Brunson’s efficiency towards the Celtics left fairly an impression on observers, as he appeared to attract contact throughout numerous areas of the court docket.
Regardless of these efforts, he completed the sport with no single journey to the charity stripe, suggesting officers allowed a extra bodily type of play that specific evening.
Whereas Brunson does often exaggerate contact, this tactic has grow to be commonplace in right now’s NBA.
The observe has grow to be so widespread that the league has carried out particular measures to deal with flopping.
However, regardless of his status for promoting fouls, Brunson isn’t always parading to the free-throw line.
Rating solely eighth in free throw makes an attempt this season, the numbers inform a distinct story.
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