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When the NBA All-Star Game tips off on Feb. 16, a couple of generations of Knicks fans will witness something they’ve never seen before. For the first time in 50 years, the franchise has a pair of Eastern Conference starters, as Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns were selected on Thursday.
The feat was last achieved by Knicks icons Clyde Frazier and Earl Monroe, who scored a combined 39 points back in 1975. While the significance of the All-Star Game has changed considerably since then, the voting results are still humbling to Brunson and Towns, eager to make new history.
Brunson and Towns are the first Knicks to receive starting lineup nods since Carmelo Anthony was selected in 2016.
“I knew [starting] was a possibility, but I didn’t get my hopes up too high. Just very thankful,” Brunson said on Friday. “It’s individual, but it’s a team award… I’m thankful to the fans who voted, the players and coaches as well. I don’t take it lightly… You work your whole life for moments like this.
“I actually said this yesterday on my podcast, about how when you accept the role when you come into the league, it’d be easier for you to have a long career. And so if you understand your role and accept it, but still work at a pace where you wanna be… You look back and you see how far you’ve come and it’s a cool feeling, but I’m still not satisfied. I want to make that very clear. I still want to get better.”
Brunson, who will soon play in his second All-Star game for the Knicks, rightfully earned a spot in the starting five. He is leading the team in points (26.0) and assists (7.3) through 45 games, and his efforts have kept New York as a top-three seed in the conference. Brunson finished second in both player and media voting, trailing only Donovan Mitchell.
As for Towns, he’ll make his fifth All-Star appearance. The veteran big has been a monster around the rim, averaging 13.9 rebounds — ranking best in the East. He’s also averaging 25.1 points — his highest mark since the 2019-20 season — on 54.5 percent shooting. He is the Knicks’ first All-Star center since Tyson Chandler in 2013.
“It’s really special to be able to do it with a teammate. So shoutout to JB and our coaches and teammates because they made it possible,” Towns said. “We’re just there to represent our whole team. These guys are the reason that we’re able to go out there and do what we do.
“It’s super special to even be mentioned with names like [Frazier and Monroe]. I grew up in this area, for my name to be even close with them is something you just dream about when you’re young. I’m super honored, to say the least. I’m just really happy I have this opportunity to represent my teammates, because they’re the reason we’re able to do this.”
The Knicks (29-16) still have nine games to play before All-Star festivities, and a five-game homestand begins on Saturday with a matchup against the Sacramento Kings.
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