Jalen Brunson Gives The Story Behind 3-Point Celebration

It’s likely that if you watched even one Knicks game this season, Jalen Brunson made a 3-point shot. Considering that he has a lifetime shooting percentage of 38.6 percent from beyond the arc, that is not a stunning sight.

Jalen Brunson Gives The Story Behind 3-Point Celebration

Brunson prefers to celebrate in a different way instead of raising his three fingers in the air. What specific source of inspiration is this action of his?

It’s also clouded in mystery since Brunson refused to explain its significance to reporters last season, rebuffing a query about it on an ESPN broadcast and saying, “That’s between me and my teammates.”

Brunson puts his palm up to his face and sandwiches his nose between his thumb and index finger. He turns and sprints to the opposite end of the floor, flashing three fingers in the process.

When ESPN’s Lisa Salters questioned Brunson about the origins of the celebration following the Knicks’ victory in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Cavaliers, he declined to provide any information.

“It truly came out of nowhere and it truly has no meaning other than three points on the board,” he said. “I just kind of stuck with it because it was unique and nobody was doing it.”

The 27-year-old point guard claimed to have used it for the first time as a Dallas Maverick in the 2022 playoffs, when he made a corner three-pointer and the celebration was shown in slow motion following a play-stoppage. However, he was only partially covered by his lips during that game.

“It’s constantly used on ads. Forget what game it was used, but it was early in the season last year my first year here,” Brunson said. “My mom looked at me and said, ‘Ehh, not a good look.’

“So, I switched it up a little bit.”

According to Dybala, the motion is intended to represent a gladiator mask as a tribute to his infatuation with the Russell Crowe and Joaquin Phoneix-starring 2000 Academy Award winner “Gladiator.”

“I saw those comparisons and I’ve seen him do it, and actually played with [Dybala] on FIFA [the video game],” Brunson said, “but I never really tried to emulate that.”

“Coach Wright would’ve killed us,” Brunson said.

Brunson’s roommate at Villanova, Donte DiVincenzo, attested to that.

“He would tell us to turn around and get back on defense. If you watch us back in college, after dunks, 3s, no celebrations,” DiVincenzo said. “As soon as you dunk the ball, as soon as your feet hit the ground, you turn around and you’re sprinting back.

“Because it would be on the film the next day. And he would point it out.”

Giannis Antetokounmpo used Brunson’s celebration this season.

How many 3s does Jalen Brunson average?

This season, Jalen Brunson has made 2.7 three-pointers per game.

What is Jalen Brunson’s career-high?

On December 15, Jalen Brunson scored 50 points, which was his highest point total in a game against the Suns.

Was Jalen Brunson a 5 star?

When Jalen Brunson was a player at Lincolnshire’s Stevenson High School, he was a 5-star recruit. Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, who played in the NBA, had a significant impact on his basketball career. Jalen received great advice and insights from his basketball pro family growing up, which shaped his game.

 

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