The New York Knicks’ superstar, Jalen Brunson, has had a good year. Yes, there were a few thorns along the way. But come on, no one expected them to do what they did in the 2023-24 season! Tom Thibodeau and his boys finished the regular season as the second-seeded team, right behind the eventual champions, Boston Celtics in the East. They had the fifth-best record and made the Conference Semi-Finals for the second straight time in 10 years.

As for Brunson, he has now added another award to his resume. Bagging the BET Award for the Sportsman of the Year over prominent names like LeBron James, who leads the list with the most awards at nine, Stephen Curry (ranks second with five wins), Patrick Mahomes, and more, posted a thank you note on X.

“Appreciate @BETAwards  for the award,” followed by a folded hands emoji.

For his gritty performance throughout the year, Jalen Brunson was named to the All-NBA Second Team. He was also a finalist for the Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year award, presented each year to the ideal teammate, characterized by “selfless play and commitment and dedication to his team.” Although Mike Conley swept that up this year, no one would contest that the team-first Brunson is no less deserving.

The Villanova product has quietly transformed into the leader of a Knicks team trying to make an impact. Certainly, we saw the impact in the past season. Jalen showcased his leadership by his shrewd orchestration of the offense, more often than not controlling the pace of the game. He also averaged career-highs in points and assists in both regular and postseason. He missed just four games, despite battling injuries. And whenever their opponents thought they had the upper hand, the crafty point guard would return, getting the final laugh.

So, it really is no surprise that the 6’2 Jalen Brunson was the recipient of the BET Award over the more prominent names. However, we know on-court success isn’t the only aspect that goes into this, yes?

Jalen Brunson holds his life mantra close to his heart, always

“The Magic Is In the Work.” This is Jalen’s motto for life. It was something he always stood by. Never one to underestimate the power of hard work, everything the 2018 second-round pick achieved till now was out of his sheer work ethic. And it was also the cornerstone for his foundation, the Second Round Foundation.

“Starting the Second Round Foundation, it was about trying to help people become leaders and obviously helping the under-resourced as well … [and] having that mindset of ‘I’m going to outwork anyone and everyone to become the person I want to be.‘“ Brunson said during a telephonic interview with Shane Young of Forbes.

One of its prominent initiatives was the recently established ‘Jalen Brunson Charity Golf Classic’. This year, too, the event is scheduled to take place on August 26th at the Westchester Country Club in New York.

Last year, the tournament was held at the Twin Orchard Country Club in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. And they included celebrities along with prominent names in the Chicago area. Joining the cause were his teammates, present and former, and even saw ESPN’s Michael Wilbon host a dinner. This year, too, the event can expect even bigger names, undoubtedly!

Of course, this is not all Brunson has done for his community. The first-time All-Star always goes back to his alma mater, the Stevenson High School, to provide any and every help he can. The Jalen Brunson Skills Academy is one of those. Launched in 2019, it was a 3-day event that trained kids from 6-8th grade and taught them valuable basketball techniques.

All the proceeds received went straight to the ‘Stevenson Foundation’. Another one of his initiatives was the partnership with ‘Covenant House’ – a shelter service that helps homeless kids and survivors of human trafficking. It’s enough to make one wonder why it took this long for the man to be recognized, wouldn’t you say?

But before you go, be sure to check this video of Leonardo Armato’s take on the deadly duo, Shaq and Kobe.

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