When Jalen Brunson Sits, Who Takes Over? Knicks Loss Exposes a Crucial Question

The Knicks’ loss to Philadelphia raised questions about their offense without Jalen Brunson. Can Kolek, McBride and Clarkson provide the answer?

Jalen Brunson needed only 15 minutes to deliver 12 points and three assists in the New York Knicks’ preseason opener. Finding a dependable offensive rhythm beyond his contribution proved considerably harder.

The 120–97 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers brought an important question into focus: how will the Knicks offense without Jalen Brunson consistently generate good scoring opportunities?

One exhibition, featuring limited starter minutes and extensive experimentation, cannot provide a definitive answer. Nevertheless, New York’s struggles illustrated why creating an effective supporting structure around its captain deserves attention.

The Knicks Need More Than Another Scorer

New York shot 35-for-91 from the field and just 8-for-41 from three-point range. Those numbers describe a difficult shooting performance, but making more attempts would address only part of the problem.

The Knicks also struggled to create comfortable looks. As possessions became harder to execute, challenging jump shots increasingly became the endpoint.

Brunson gives the offense someone who can control the tempo, draw help and create passing opportunities. When he rests, New York needs a reliable way to produce those advantages through other players and coordinated movement.

That responsibility does not have to belong to a single replacement.

Miles McBride’s 10 points off the bench were a useful contribution, but scoring totals alone cannot establish whether a lineup is generating sustainable offense. A reserve can finish possessions effectively while the group still struggles to create the initial opening.

The more revealing questions concern how often New York reaches the paint, forces a defensive rotation and moves the ball before an opening disappears.

Kolek, McBride and Clarkson Offer Different Possible Answers

Tyler Kolek had opportunities to direct the offense against Philadelphia, although some of his attempts to assert himself appeared forced. His connection with James Wiseman offered a more promising example of what a coordinated action can produce: a ball handler finding a big man moving toward the rim.

For Kolek, the challenge is choosing when to attack and when to keep the possession moving. Creating an advantage does not always require taking the shot himself.

McBride could help by combining perimeter scoring with decisive attacks against defenders closing out. That would allow him to contribute to creation without asking him to reproduce Brunson’s entire role.

Jordan Clarkson represents another option, but his opener included missed shots and traveling violations. New York needs productive aggression from him, with individual scoring attempts supporting the flow of the offense.

Mike Brown can also explore staggering Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns so that reserve groups retain an established offensive focal point. Around that player, purposeful cuts, timely screens and quicker passes could reduce the pressure on any one guard.

The preseason provides room to test those combinations. The priority is building possessions that work before a difficult shot becomes necessary.

Brunson will remain central to New York’s attack. Developing a dependable offense during his rest minutes would give the Knicks a better chance to preserve leads—and reduce how often their captain returns to a game needing to rescue the scoring.