Mike Brown hits back on the "foul-baiter" narrative put on Knicks star Jalen Brunson

Jalen Brunson has been playing at a superstar level for a few seasons now with the New York Knicks. He has developed a solid play style that takes advantage of his arsenal of dribble moves that help him get past all types of defenders.

At the same time, Brunson has always had a solid skill set with drawing fouls. That kind of approach works for any star in the league's history, from Kobe Bryant to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Brunson has received constant backlash over the past few years, and Knicks coach Mike Brown is tired of it.

Brown defends Brunson from the disingenuous criticism about his play style

During his time with the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson was mostly seen as a backup point guard or at least the secondary guard to Luka Doncic. He knew he was capable of doing more, which is why he moved to the Knicks, where he had a bigger opportunity.

He was correct with his assessment because Brunson has become one of the best guards in the league. Doncic is doing his thing with the Los Angeles Lakers now, but Brunson has also found his success on his own. They both have a unique ability to draw fouls, which has led to some bizarre criticism.

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That is why Brown is perplexed because that does not take away from Brunson's ability to be a superstar. He has always praised his star point guard, as he argues that he deserves to be in the MVP conversation every time he wants to say it.

"A lot of people you have to ask, but obviously, the numbers speak for themselves. We're not concerned about that. He's just gotta keep being aggressive and in that MVP race like we know he is," Brown said after the Knicks beat the Pacers on Friday.

Against the Indiana Pacers, Brunson had a classic performance. He had 29 points with eight trips to the free-throw line. Brunson also dished out nine assists, which proves his offensive versatility.

People might criticize him for getting to the line, but Brown and Knicks fans will argue that he plays physical basketball. He earns his way to the charity stripe often, and that should be commended.

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