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Jalen Brunson organizes team meeting after another Knicks collapse
Jalen Brunson called together his teammates after the heavy defeat against the Mavericks. The New York Knicks captain is asking the players to find solutions to their January crisis themselves.
Photo Credit : © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
New York Knicks captain Jalen Brunson organized a players-only meeting after the heavy home defeat against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night, according to ESPN sources. This initiative comes at a difficult time for the New York franchise, which is going through a challenging period with nine losses in eleven games.
A strong message from the captain after an embarrassing performance
Brunson’s message to his teammates was clear: the Knicks must find answers to their poor January performances among themselves, rather than looking for solutions from the coaching staff. This stance from the point guard comes as the team has fallen to 25 wins and 18 losses, after an excellent start to the season at 23-9 and an NBA Cup victory in December.
The situation has become particularly concerning with the team’s offensive collapse, which now ranks among the 5 lowest-scoring teams in the league in January. Madison Square Garden fans expressed their discontent by booing their team, which trailed 75-45 at halftime against the Mavericks.
After the game, Brunson didn’t mince words: « As a team, we know what we need to do. Either we do it, we care enough to do it, or we don’t. » This public statement reflects the urgency of the situation and the captain’s desire to hold his teammates accountable.
It’s happening: Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting after the Knicks lost 9 of their last 11 games, per @ramonashelburne
The message: « Stop looking at the coaches. We have to look in the mirror. »
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 20, 2026
A necessary collective soul-searching
Josh Hart, Knicks forward, also acknowledged the seriousness of the situation after the game. « We all need to do some soul-searching, » he said. « Right now, we’re playing embarrassing basketball. We’re not executing on offense. Defensively, we’ve been abysmal. We’ve been terrible defensively all year. »
This collective self-criticism underscores the extent of the problems the New York team is facing, both offensively and defensively. The meeting organized by Brunson marks an important step in the Knicks’ attempted turnaround, as they must quickly regain their early-season form to maintain their playoff ambitions.
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Nicolas Flamecourt
With a background in sports management, Nicolas Flamecourt covers NBA news with a particular passion for the North American league, which he has been following for several years. He also covers the NCAA, including news and scouting of future prospects, and regularly conducts interviews with French players as well as players competing in Europe.
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