- New York Knicks guards RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson spoke to Insider about their participation in an "American Express x NBA 2K23 Lab" activation in Manhattan this week.
Representing their adopted city, New York Knicks guards RJ Barrett and Jalen Brunson will be among several professional basketball players participating in the launch of a new activation from American Express and NBA 2K in Manhattan this week.
The activation, called the "American Express x NBA 2K23 Lab," will take place from Thursday to Sunday as a pop-up installation at SoHo Loft, located at 477 Broadway, #2, New York, NY. It'll feature 2K gaming areas and other hands-on elements like a "Highlight Hub" hoop where fans can recreate iconic NBA shots, along with 2K digital assets for Amex card members.
To promote the space, on Saturday, Barrett and Brunson will play each other in a 2K game from the activation, which will air live on Twitch. Trae Young, Kelsey Plum, and Sabrina Ionescu will be among the other NBA and WNBA stars participating in events at the pop-up through the weekend. The Lab will be open to the public at the following times: 5 to 11 pm on Dec. 8 and 9; 2 to 8 pm on Dec. 10; and 12 to 6 pm on Dec. 11.
In separate phone conversations this week, Barrett and Brunson spoke to Insider about their partnership with NBA 2K, their 2K habits, their acclimation to living and playing in New York, and the Knicks' path in this NBA season's Eastern Conference.
The following interviews have been condensed and edited for clarity.
John Lynch: How did this partnership come together?
RJ Barrett: I think this partnership was actually interesting. You know, my teammate Jalen and I, we were talking about this partnership, we were talking about doing it, and we both thought it was a good idea [laugh]. So we both agreed that we're gonna do it. And, you know, I think it's kind of a blessing. I think it's gonna be a lot of fun.
Lynch: You know, doctors will use VR and AR simulation to visualize surgeries. Is 2K a manifestation tool for you in that way?
Barrett: Man, 2K is fun, and I think it's just a release, a way that you could have fun. Especially, you know, with your friends. I play 2K with my friends all the time. So it's a way for us to have fun and compete.
Lynch: Into your fourth year here, how would you say you've acclimated to the pressure of being an entity in New York?
Barrett: Man, you know, every year is different. Every year, you learn something new. And I'm enjoying it, man. I'm blessed to wake up every day, and my job is to go out there and play basketball, be the best player I can be. So I'm enjoying it.
Lynch: Does MSG feel like a home for you currently? How do you feel you've grown into that arena?
Barrett: I think that since day one being here, I've embraced it, and the city's embraced me. And I just wanna go in there and do the best I can every time I'm out there. It's a lot of fun. There's nowhere else you'd rather play basketball.
Lynch: Does the noise reach you? How in tune are you to when the Post is talking out its neck about you, for example?
Barrett: I mean, I think everybody hears a little bit of something. But I try not to pay too much attention to it, as well as, most of the times people don't know what they're talking about. And, you know, no one is in my shoes. No one's in my situation. So no one can really know [laugh] anything, to be honest. And so, I just try to go out there and play my game every night. You know, I work at my game every day, so no matter what they're saying, I know who I am.
Lynch: There's a proven advantage to being left-handed in basketball. What would you say to those who suggest that that's negated on the Knicks by there being too many left handed players? [Laugh].
Barrett: Uh, well, I think it is interesting. [Laugh]. Jalen, Julius, and I are all left-handed, and then we got Isaiah, too. So it's interesting for sure. Uh, I will say, we score a lot of points in the paint, so I don't know, maybe that's an advantage there, I guess. I don't know. Guys get into paint all the time and making plays. So, you never know.
Lynch: What does a playoff run look like for this year's Knicks, in your opinion?
Barrett: Playoff run looks like us just staying consistent and really locking down on defense. 'Cause when we do that, we're normally tough to beat. So we just stay consistent throughout the whole entire season. Keep working, keep fighting. Don't give up. And, you know, you can have good times or bad times, good stretches, bad stretches, but you stay together in those moments, and be a consistent team throughout the year, you put yourself in a good position.
Lynch: Wanted to ask off top, how do you like your odds against RJ in a game of 2K?
Jalen Brunson: Uh, I like my odds a lot. RJ has ... I'm not too worried about him. He doesn't seem confident in himself, so I'm definitely excited.
Lynch: How does 2K factor into your life during the season?
Brunson: I mean, it factors in a lot. I think it's pretty cool to be in a video game. For the most part, I don't really play as myself, but I have a lot of people who I know who play as me. But it's just a really cool experience. And it's something that you dream of as a kid.
Lynch: 25 games in, how are you personally acclimating to the pressure of living in New York and playing at MSG?
Brunson: I think, for me, I don't really look at it as pressure. It's a game I love and I've worked very hard for. And I'm in a situation where it's, uh ... obviously New York, everything is more heightened, and all that. But I'm just going out there, doing what I love, and trying to help my team win. So, if I don't look at it as pressure, I won't really feel it.
Lynch: You know, they say there's a proven advantage to being left-handed in basketball. That's true to your experience, I'd imagine.
Brunson: Oh, yeah. I would definitely say it's an advantage. I don't really understand like the whole stigma of why everyone is like, "Lefties are always going left," and all this other stuff. Well, a majority of basketball players are right-handed, and they pretty much all go right. And so when someone sees a leftie, like, "Oh, he's going left," I was like, "Well, it's just the opposite of what most players are doing now." So, it's definitely an advantage though.
Lynch: What would you say to those who suggest it's too much of a good thing on this team, with three left-handed starters?
Brunson: It's definitely an advantage for us. We kinda know what we like to do. And obviously we're very similar, and we have very similar characteristics. And, I don't really ... I just ... I'm going with the flow. And it's no big deal to me. It's actually one of the coolest things ever to happen. One of my best friends is left-handed, and I remember playing basketball with him. So when there's guys on the court who are left-handed, you just have a little bit of connection.
Lynch: What are the keys to a sustainable run in the East this season, for this team?
Brunson: I think the biggest key for us is consistency. We need to be as consistent as possible. I think even the past couple games, even in our losses, we've played extremely hard, and our defenses look promising in some games in the recent past. And I just think we gotta keep that up and keep sticking together, and try and stay as consistent as possible. Be on the right trajectory.