Jalen Brunson Explains Why He Declined To Be Helped Up By Chris Paul During Knicks-Warriors Game

During an interview with NBA reporter Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report, Jalen Brunson explained why he declined to be helped up by Chris Paul during the New York Knicks–Golden State Warriors game at Madison Square Garden.

Brunson has no beef with Paul. The Knicks guard told Haynes that he preferred to be helped up by one of his teammates instead of the Warriors veteran. 

Jalen Brunson sets record straight: What he said to Chris Paul when he declined to be helped up by the veteran guard last night. pic.twitter.com/jUrfziTwRj

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) March 1, 2024

Brunson and Paul have been friends since the former was in high school. Paul is also friends with Brunson’s dad, Rick, a former NBA player. 

The Warriors defeated the Knicks by a final score of 110-99. Golden State improved to 31-27 on the season, while New York dropped to 35-25. 

Brunson finished with 27 points, five rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes while shooting 11-of-25 from the field, 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and 1-of-1 from the free-throw line against the Warriors.  

Meanwhile, Paul put up 11 points, four rebounds and six assists in 25 minutes while shooting 3-of-8 from the floor, 2-of-4 from 3 and 3-of-4 from the foul line versus the Knicks. 

Brunson is averaging 27.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists on the season for the Knicks. He made his first career All-Star team.

Paul, meanwhile, is averaging 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 7.1 assists in his first season with the Warriors.  

Golden State hosts New York on March 18. It will be fascinating to see who wins that game.