Two Knicks appeared on the All-Star “Game” on Sunday.
Neither won the thing, and only one made it to the final match.
This is the first time all season someone involved with New York has failed to win a meaningless title.
Jalen Brunson
On Jeremy Sochan’s addition and what he brings:
“Yeah, I’m very excited to see him. I think he brings a level of toughness. From what I’ve seen, he’s been a great teammate. So I’m very excited. It’s a great opportunity for us and for him.”
On his “holy grail” outside of winning a championship:
“Honestly, I feel like my journey has been very different from most. I’m very thankful for it. It made me work extremely hard. It made me realize the opportunity that I’ve had. I’m still chasing a lot. I write my goals — long-term and short-term — at the beginning of every year, and I keep that to myself.”
On lessons learned from the Eastern Conference Finals loss last year:
“Never looking ahead. You want to focus on the task in front of you. After last year, you can’t just jump right back into where we were. You’ve got to go through the journey all over again. So it’s taking it one day at a time, step by step, not focusing down the road — just being present.”
On Jose Alvarado’s impact:
“He’s had a great impact so far with his energy — who he is on and off the court, what he brings to the table. He’s a great person to be around. He’s already impacting our team and it’s going to be great for the Garden. Fans are going to love him if they don’t already.”
On who he’d want on his podcast:
“I’m a big SVU fan — Mariska Hargitay.”
On who is his most annoying teammate:
“I’m not going to say his name. I’ll just say No. 3 on the Knicks is the most annoying person ever.”
On game-day mental preparation:
“I’m very routine-based. I try to stick to the same routine. My focus comes from preparing — not just game day, but the days leading up to it, the summertime, the work I’ve put in my entire life. Your confidence comes from your work ethic. That’s how I prepare.”
On podcasting advice:
“It’s talking to one of my best friends. We talk about things we want to talk about. We don’t have to answer every question people want us to answer. You can create your own narrative, say things you need to get off your chest. It’s its own platform. It’s something we didn’t think we’d want to do, and now here we are in year three. It’s fun. It’s unique. It’s a great opportunity, possibly life after basketball if we want to continue it.”
On his first NBA field goal:
“It was a dunk against the Lakers. It came off a Julius Randle turnover — Julius and D’Angelo Russell were fighting over the ball. It ended up in my hands, and I did a two-hand dunk, which I never do.”
On the possibility of Jason Tatum returning this season:
“He’s a very dangerous player in our league. Obviously, seeing him go down last year, it sucks to see. You never want to see that from anyone in any sport. But the fact that he’s worked so hard to get to where he is and is preparing to come back, that just speaks to who he is. Basketball fans around the world are excited to see him come back.”
Karl-Anthony Towns
On representing the Dominican Republic and inspiring kids:
“I don’t think it’s pressure. I put the time and work into the gym and my craft, and I feel very confident every time I step on the court. I know this is bigger than me. I’m super happy I have the opportunity to show Dominican kids it’s possible — not only to get a scholarship, but to make the NBA. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my mentors who showed me it was possible — Charlie Villanueva, Francisco Garcia, Felipe Lopez, Al Horford. It means a lot that I was able to take their teachings and continue to show the next generation that it’s possible.”
On Dominican culture influencing his game:
“The work ethic, the passion. Dominicans are passionate about family, about food, about having a good time. I translate that passion into my game. Every time I’m on the court or in practice, I’m passionate. I take the work serious. I look for quality over quantity.”
On international basketball and future opportunities:
“I love international basketball. It would be cool to see it grow and operate at a high level. Maybe one day be a part of it. There’s so much talent in the world. Making the NBA as one of 450 players is extremely difficult. Some guys fall through the cracks but have the talent and work ethic. It would be cool to see those guys get a chance to show their talents and live their dream.”
On comparisons between New York and Los Angeles:
“I love both. In New York, I’ve got my family — my father, grandmother, my whole Dominican family, my mom’s side too. In LA, my fiancée’s family is here. Happy mother-in-law solves a lot of problems.”
On the Knicks’ deadline moves:
“It’s unfortunate losing someone like Yabu, who was a big part of our locker room. But I’m glad to see him thriving in Chicago. Jose brings a lot of energy. It’s great to have someone who can jolt the game whenever we need it.”
On playing in the World Cup:
“It was really cool. I think it was the biggest World Cup attendance game of all time. Playing with my mother’s country on my chest, in a different atmosphere, not an NBA game — that’s something I won’t forget. I’m super happy our country got the win.”
On inspiring the next generation:
“It’s special. I’m honored to be in this position to show the next generation that it’s possible — to show them where I’ve been successful and where I’ve made mistakes, so they don’t make the same ones and can take this game and this flag to even greater heights.”