ESPN analyst Bobby Marks says New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson will be out for redemption this season. 

He didn't specify the reason for the arc; however, it's safe to assume he meant the general snubbing of Brunson in MVP conversations over the last few seasons. 

Brunson has been averaging north of 20 points per game over the last four campaigns, including 26.9 points in the last three — shooting just under 50 percent from the field and a little under 40 percent from beyond the arc. 

He finished fifth in MVP voting behind winner Nikola Jokic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2023-24—a season in which he averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game. 

And even then, he received no top-five votes. He wasn't near the discussion the last two years. Brunson may see that as disrespect he simply won't stand for after the season he just put together last term. 

Despite leading the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years last year, Brunson hasn't hidden the fact that he is not satisfied. 

Earlier in the offseason, he talked about his desire to be even greater on the Things No One Tells You podcast. 

"I've wanted to be a champion for a long time, but I didn't want to let it define me and who I was," he said. "This is everything I worked for, but I feel like I'm still working on a lot. When you are still trying to accomplish more, the quicker you can move on from that accomplishment- something you worked so hard for- the quicker you can continue to get better and not be satisfied." 

Brunson revealed that he mentally moved on from the Knicks' title run around the time of his July wrist surgery. 

Entering his ninth year in the association, he is back to full health and ready to continue conquering. That bodes well for the defending champs and his chances of finally clinching the Most Valuable Player honor. 

The three-time All-Star will have to perform at an All-NBA level to have a shot against an utterly stacked field in both conferences. 

Brunson's numbers will have to reach the heights they did in 2023-24. A three-time All-NBA Second Team selection, he may need to step up to the First Team to be strongly considered, rightly or wrongly. 

The Knicks go as he goes. Brunson is their captain, emotional leader, and best player. If they are battling for the top seed in the East, he's likely playing better than ever, given how much stiffer the competition got in the offseason. 

Brunson's MVP odds are currently trending between +3000 and +4000. Victor Wembanyama is the favorite, and the four people Brunson finished behind three years ago are still preferred over him. 

For a competitor like Brunson, that may be enough motivation to find a whole new gear to shift into.