Jalen Brunson sits 17 assists short of 3,000 for his career, about four games away at this season's pace. The Knicks are 2-4 and 12th, and the schedule gives them room to chase both the milestone and the standings.
The Count
By our count, Jalen Brunson has 2,983 career assists. He is 17 short of 3,000. He is averaging 5.2 a game this season over six games, so that is about four games away. That is a projection at the current pace, not a promise. Assists come with the offense, and the offense has been stuck: 109.6 offensive rating, 110.6 on defense, a net of minus 1.1.
Soft Landing
Monday brings the Brooklyn Nets, who are 0-5 on a five-game losing streak. They allow 115.2 points per 100 possessions. They are on the second night of a back-to-back, while New York has had two days off. Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Demin and Tyler Bilodeau are all listed out. Julius Randle, at 21.0 points a game, is the one Brooklyn answer. A defense that porous should open lanes for Brunson to find shooters.
Others Close
Brunson is not the only one near a round number. OG Anunoby is 8 assists short of 1,000, about three games away at 2.7 a game. Karl-Anthony Towns is 8 threes short of 1,250, about four games away at 2.0 a game. Brunson is also 14 threes short of 1,000, roughly seven games off. Anunoby's assist mark could fall at Cleveland on Nov. 7. Watch the Bulls game on Nov. 4 for the first sign that any of these are moving.
Healthy Enough
Here is the good news. Since Oct. 20, our count shows 159 rotation minutes missing, and New York ranks 26th of 30 on that list. Only Jose Alvarado, at 19.9 minutes a game, is out today, with an estimated return of Nov. 4. Our day-to-day tracking says 1 of 4 Knicks listed that way missed the next game. Around the league, it is 58%. Towns was listed twice and cleared both times.
Bottom Line
This club is 12th at 2-4 and projects to 27-55 at its current pace. That is a warning, not a verdict. The next five opponents carry a mix of soft spots and one hard road test at Cleveland. If Brunson reaches 3,000 on schedule, the Knicks will probably have moved up with him. If he does not, the number will have told the story first.
How many assists does Jalen Brunson need for 3,000?
Brunson has 2,983 career assists, so he needs 17. At his 5.2 a game this season, that is about four games away, a projection and not a guarantee.
When does Jose Alvarado return for the Knicks?
Alvarado is listed out with a left ankle problem, with an estimated return of Nov. 4. That is the Bulls game at home.
