The New York Knicks are set to face the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday for a place in the NBA in-season tournament semifinal. Jalen Brunson explained on Sunday why his team needs to take the challenge against the Milwaukee Bucks seriously.
The Knicks made the in-season tournament quarter-finals and if they win on Tuesday in a one-and-done elimination game will travel to Las Vegas for the final phase of the competition.
“It’s something we could put on our résumé as a team,” Jalen Brunson said after practice Sunday. “So if you have the chance to win something — I mean, we have a chance. So, why not? It’s another game for us, and so we’re gonna be ready to go in that aspect. There’s a little bit at stake.”
Each player of the winning team will receive 500,000$, while it’s $200,000 for the losing team in the final and all semifinalists get $100,000. Each player received 50,000$ for just making the quarter-finals.
“For us to go out there and BS the game or not really care about it — the guys who do play and do make a lot of money — is unfair to our teammates,” Jalen Brunson said, referring to a comment from Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard.
Damian Lillard said a while back that the teams should take the NBA in-season tournament seriously, as there are players that could be assisted financially by winning the competition.
“I think as a leader and somebody who cares about your teammates especially your younger teammates, you got guys on two-way contracts, guys who are trying to earn their stay and that prize in the end could change their family’s lives,” Lillard told reporters back in November.
Jalen Brunson and Damian Lillard are set to face each other on Tuesday. Brunson is averaging 24.9 points, 5.5 assists and 3.7 rebounds in the NBA season so far, while Lillard is putting up 25.5, 6.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds in his first season with the Milwaukee Bucks.
