Brunson Slims Down as Knicks Seek Faster Tempo Ahead of New Era

Jalen Brunson arrived for his fourth Knicks training camp a bit lighter than last season, a detail he declined to quantify but said was meaningful as the team looks to play with more pace. “It was important for me to be a little lighter just throughout the course of the season,” Brunson told reporters after practice Friday. “Not even being lighter, I’m not that much lighter, definitely more toned and like that. But it’s just important for me to get my body in the best shape possible I can and go from there.” Brunson’s emphasis on conditioning comes as the Knicks outline a plan to push tempo on offense, a shift they believe will maximize his strengths and create more possessions in transition.

With the Knicks expected to play at a faster tempo this season, Brunson said the change could prove beneficial for his game and the team as a whole. “It’s all about adapting,” he said, noting that a lighter frame is part of a broader effort to stay durable through a longer, more demanding schedule. The remarks came as the club continued to work through camp drills, focusing on execution and pace to begin the season on solid footing.

The franchise’s coaching landscape is a talking point this fall. Mike Brown, who previously coached the Nigerian national team during the Tokyo Olympics cycle (played in 2021), brings a relationship with forward OG Anunoby that predates his Knicks hire. Brown tried to recruit Anunoby to join the Nigerian roster, and the two remain in regular contact. Anunoby said he was excited about Brown taking the coaching reins and that their conversations extended beyond basketball. “I’ve known Mike for some years now. I was excited when I found out he was the coach. We talked pretty quickly, just about everything, not even basketball, but life stuff,” Anunoby said.

Brown’s familiarity with Anunoby has added an element of intrigue to the season, as the coach and player navigate how their connection could influence personnel moves and on-court roles. Brown described Anunoby as a “really great guy, a fantastic guy, and he does have some personality. Sometimes he lets it out,” offering a lighthearted glimpse at their growing rapport. Whether Anunoby is part of the Knicks’ long-term plans remains a subject for deeper analysis, but the two have already established a productive line of communication and mutual respect that could shape how the roster evolves during Brown’s first year as head coach.

In other off-court news tied to Brunson’s profile, a signature sneaker collaboration is on the horizon. Later in the year, Brunson will premiere the Jalen Brunson x Nike Kobe 6 “Statue of Liberty.” Brunson spoke of the opportunity with gratitude, noting it as a meaningful connection to Kobe Bryant’s legacy. “It means the world. It means the world to me to be able to wear his shoe and have a little bit of input on it as well,” he said. “Really excited to have this opportunity. His family is amazing. Just really thankful.” The project reflects Brunson’s rising visibility beyond the court as a broader basketball brand ambassador and a bridge to Bryant’s enduring impact on the sport.

The personal ties connected to the Bryant family extend further into Brunson’s life. His mother, Sandra, and Bryant’s sister, Sharia Washington, were college volleyball teammates and roommates at Temple, a detail Brunson highlighted as part of the larger narrative around his admiration for Bryant’s legacy. The familial connection underscores a blend of sport, tradition, and mentorship that has followed Brunson into the current Knicks iteration.

As training camp unfolds, the Knicks are balancing a renewed emphasis on pace with a focus on continuity and development. Brunson’s lighter frame is a tangible signal of a broader strategic shift, but the team’s success will depend on how quickly players adapt to a higher-tempo style while maintaining execution on both ends of the floor. The inclusion of Brown’s approach, the potential integration of Anunoby into a system that values versatility, and Brunson’s evolving role all loom large as New York looks to climb in the standings while building toward a deeper postseason run. The season will also test how quickly the roster can mesh under a new coaching voice and a set of ambitious performance targets.

As the campaign approaches, fans will be watching to see whether the tempo uptick translates into more efficient attacking schemes and faster transition opportunities for Brunson and his teammates. If the summer changes are any guide, the Knicks intend to lean into a faster, more dynamic style that leverages Brunson’s decision-making and the multi-positional versatility Brown prizes in his lineup. The coming months should reveal how quickly those elements coalesce into a cohesive, productive unit that can compete at the Atlantic Division level and beyond.