Jalen Brunson spoke to the New York Post, offering up some kind words on his new rivals.
Sometimes, relationships transcend rivalries.
While team uniforms might be symbolic with hate, and fanbases might play off that hate, players don't always play along.
Such appears to be the case with New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson, who spoke to the New York Post about former teammate Mitchell Robinson signing with the Boston Celtics this offseason.
Robinson got a three-year deal worth nearly $50 million.
"Obviously playing for a rival and I know people want every team to hate each other. But there are some people you really care for and that’s my guy. I’m happy for him. And now, whenever we play him, he’s not my friend that day."
The 28-year-old Mitchell Robinson is an eight-year veteran of the Knicks, where he blossomed into a very solid player. He appeared in 60 games last season, starting 16 of them. He averaged 5.7 ppg in just over 19 minutes, finishing eighth in the Sixth Man of the Year voting. He, along with Brunson, helped the Knicks the NBA title by beating the San Antonio Spurs.
It's unclear exactly what role he'll play with the Celtics. The C's have four big men in the rotation, including first-round draft pick Chris Cenac Jr., so there are multiple options for Joe Mazzulla. Some people think Robinson should start, while others think he's best suited for a prominent bench role.
Denver Nuggets forward Spencer Jones (21) fights for a loose ball with New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson (23) and guard Jalen Brunson (11) in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesRegardless of whether he starts or not, he'll be a major part of the C's rotation.
One of his best assets is that he's an elite rebounder, especially on the offensive glass. That should be very valuable for a Celtics team that appears set to rely on the three-point shot once again this year. Boston attempted one of the highest volume of threes in the league last year, and nothing about their offseason tells us they'll do much different this year. Payton Pritchard, Derrick White, Sam Hauser, and Paul George are all three-point shooters at this point in their careers, and Jayson Tatum has a tendency to settle for the three-point shot as well.
Also in Celtics news
After already acquiring Jaylen Brown this offseason, the Philadelphia 76ers pulled another move that is likely to upset Celtics fans on Tuesday, with ESPN reporting that Philly has signed former big man Tacko Fall, who hasn't played in the NBA since 2022.
Still just 30 years old, Fall is a native of Senegal who played his college basketball at Central Florida. He spent parts of two seasons in Boston, appearing in 26 games, before playing 11 games with the 2021-22 Cleveland Cavaliers.
