Villanova in the Pros: Jalen Brunson Keys Shooting Stars Win

Villanova alumnus Jalen Brunson helped Team Knicks to a win in the 2026 Kia Shooting Stars competition as part of the NBA’s All-Star Weekend festivities on Saturday, Feb. 14.

The Knicks’ team consisted of Brunson, fellow Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns and former franchise star Allan Houston. Jalen Brunson’s father, Rick, served as the team’s designated passer. The competition tasked the trio with making shots at a series of locations around the court, rising in difficulty from layups to mid-range, three-point shots and logo shots worth four points.

Team Knicks dominated the competition in the first round, punching their ticket to the final with 31 points scored (eight of them, including a four-point shot, coming from Brunson). The next closest competitors managed just 18. Brunson then scored 13 points in the final round, helping Team Knicks outscore Team Cameron (consisting of former Duke stars Jalen Johnson, Kon Knueppel and Corey Maggette 47-38.

This marks the Knicks — who also roster Brunson’s Villanova teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges — second championship this season. They also won the NBA Cup Championship back in December, with Brunson taking home tournament MVP honors. Brunson, an All-Star Game starter for the second year in a row, has New York (35-20) as the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference, half a game behind Boston for second place. His 27 points per game rank tenth in the NBA this season.

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game will begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome, home of the Los Angeles Clippers. Brunson will play for Team USA in the first game of the night, facing off against Team World for a spot in the championship game.