Jalen Brunson Earns Ultimate ‘Jay Z’ Respect from Frances Tiafoe

Frances Tiafoe’s admiration for Jalen Brunson indicates Brunson’s rising popularity in New York, perhaps rivaling even Jay-Z. Before his second-round match against Alexander Shevchenko on Wednesday, Tiafoe made a statement by wearing a Jalen Brunson New York Knicks jersey.

As one of the ATP Tour’s most captivating players, Frances Tiafoe has caught the attention of fans across various sports.

Notable athletes from outside tennis frequently attend Tiafoe’s matches. Recently, NBA star Mikal Bridges joined this list. Tiafoe welcomed Bridges by donning the jersey of his Knicks teammate, Jalen Brunson.

Just before his second-round match at the US Open 2024, World No. 20 Frances Tiafoe was spotted warming up in Jalen Brunson’s Knicks jersey. Knowing Mikal Bridges would attend the match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, Tiafoe wanted to make an impression.

“It’s funny. I was actually trying to wear a Mikal Bridges [jersey] because he was coming to the match today and he texted me that he was coming to the match, but I’m just not a morning person, so I put it on and then when I took it off to go practice, I was like, God, Jalen,” Tiafoe explained.

The Maryland native defended his choice by calling Brunson the ‘man’ of New York City. He even went as far as to compare the Knicks point guard to the legendary rapper Jay-Z, acknowledging Brunson’s significant impact.

“But yeah, Brunson, he’s the man here. He’s damn near bigger than Jay-Z,” Tiafoe said in a video posted by New York Basketball via X (formerly Twitter).

Jalen Brunson has certainly made his mark in New York, leading the Knicks to the NBA playoffs in each of his seasons at Madison Square Garden.

Coming from the Dallas Mavericks with high expectations, Brunson has undoubtedly surpassed them.

It’s challenging to rival Jay-Z’s stature in New York City’s cultural hierarchy. His song “Empire State of Mind” celebrates his deep connection to the city, mentioning neighborhoods like Brooklyn, Tribeca, Harlem, and Bed-Stuy, as well as sports teams like the Knicks, Nets, and Yankees.

Brunson has entered that elite category thanks to his outstanding performance for the Knicks in last season’s NBA playoffs. The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged 32.4 points and 7.5 assists per game across 13 starts.

Brunson joined an elite group as the fourth player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in four consecutive playoff games. He accomplished this feat during Games 4 through 6 of the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers and Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.

In July, Brunson further endeared himself to Knicks fans by signing a new contract worth $113 million. He could have earned more money if he had waited until next summer to extend his deal.

Brunson’s decision to forgo extra money now will give the Knicks the flexibility to retain core players like Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo, and OG Anunoby, while avoiding the second apron tax level.

The Knicks appeared poised for an Eastern Conference Finals run, but injuries to key players in the early rounds of the playoffs ultimately thwarted their progress.

Brunson’s jersey and Mikal Bridges’ support seemed to fuel Tiafoe, who defeated Alexander Shevchenko after Shevchenko retired, with Tiafoe leading 6-4, 6-1, and 1-0.

Next, Tiafoe will face Ben Shelton, rekindling their quarterfinal showdown from last year.

Frances Tiafoe has a history of showcasing NBA gear at the U.S. Open for the past three years. In 2022, he wore a Kevin Durant jersey, followed by an Immanuel Quickley jersey, and this year, he chose a Jalen Brunson jersey. Speaking to reporters, Tiafoe shared his connection with NBA players.

“I’m friends with a lot of guys in the league just ’cause I follow hoops a lot, I have a lot of hoops celebrations. I did his celebration to him [Mikal Bridges] after the match and he was laughing. Yeah, it’s all just my love for hoop, and them just following me because someone of color playing tennis, that’s kind of the connection,” said the 26-year-old Tiafoe.

Throughout his career, Tiafoe has earned three titles and nearly $12 million, with a record of 201-184. The U.S. Open presents a prime opportunity for him to add more trophies to his collection.

Source: New York Basketball, USTA