2025-26 Season
JALEN BRUNSON
2025-26 Season
JALEN BRUNSON
Brunson produces at an above average rate for a 35-minute workload.
About this model: Net Impact can't measure floor spacing, help defense rotations, or playmaking gravity — so wings and guards are slightly undervalued vs bigs. How Net Impact works
TEAM COMPARISON
of 14 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 235 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
A volatile tug-of-war between surgical orchestration and exhausting hero-ball defined the opening stretch of Jalen Brunson's season. When he stayed patient, he was utterly unguardable. During his 10/26 vs MIA masterclass, relentless penetration and elite shot-making through contact fueled a massive +22.9 impact score. Yet, carrying such a heavy offensive burden frequently triggered a fatal reliance on isolation. Look at his 10/31 vs CHI performance. Despite pouring in 29 points, a barrage of missed contested jumpers dragged his impact down to -2.9, revealing the hidden costs of a high-volume, low-efficiency diet. This tunnel vision finally cratered his metrics entirely on 12/02 vs BOS, where severe struggles with shot selection against set defenses torpedoed his effectiveness for a disastrous -14.9 impact score.
This twenty-game stretch was defined by a jarring duality: breathtaking offensive explosions offset by empty-calorie nights. When his pick-and-roll manipulation clicked, he was utterly unstoppable. He peaked on 12/21 vs MIA with a brilliant 47-point masterclass that drove a colossal +20.6 impact score. Yet, that heavy offensive burden frequently yielded diminishing returns when he forced the issue. Look no further than 01/03 vs PHI, where his 31 points were completely negated by a -4.1 impact score due to brutal defensive breakdowns and an inability to navigate screens. He sank even lower during a stagnant 01/05 vs DET performance. Despite scoring 25 points, he recorded zero assists and a horrific -9.5 impact because his high-volume isolation plays turned into offensive black holes. Brunson remains a lethal scoring engine, but this erratic run exposed the hidden costs of his ball-dominant style.
Extreme volatility defined this critical winter stretch, as Jalen Brunson oscillated wildly between masterful offensive orchestration and highly destructive shooting slumps. When his jumper was falling, he was virtually unguardable. He erupted for 42 points and nine assists to drive a massive +14.8 impact on 02/04 vs DEN, picking apart the defense through elite pick-and-roll manipulation. Yet, his offensive aggression occasionally crossed the line into sheer stubbornness. During a brutal -10.6 impact performance on 02/24 vs CLE, his 20 points were entirely negated by high-volume chucking and severe defensive liabilities that actively punished his team. Conversely, Brunson found ways to rescue his value when his shot completely abandoned him. He managed a stellar +8.9 impact on 03/04 vs OKC despite scoring just 16 points on a miserable 5-of-18 from the floor, salvaging the night by dishing out 15 assists and generating crucial extra possessions through relentless hustle.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Volatile for his role. Brunson has noticeable ups and downs, with scoring moving ~8 points between games.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 57% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. Brunson consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Small downward trend. First-half impact: +4.8, second-half: +2.8. Not alarming yet, but trending the wrong direction.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 9 games. Longest cold streak: 3 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 70 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
70 games played