It is July 19, 2022, and the Knicks are holding an introductory press conference for their big free agent signing: point guard Jalen Brunson. Seven days earlier, the Knicks inked Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract.
The signing was heavily criticized at the time. Analysts across the NBA viewed Brunson as an “overpaid role player.” They also believed he had no superstar potential and that he was too small to lead a team.
In his introductory press conference, Brunson addressed the critics, saying, “Everywhere I’ve gone since high school, it’s always been ‘Jalen Brunson’s good, but…'” Brunson said. “Always that ‘but’ like they’re going to say something negative. Too slow, not athletic enough, too small, all those things that don’t measure the heart. That’s what I have.”
That heart put the Knicks back in relevancy and led them to their first NBA championship since 1973.
In Game 5 of the NBA Finals vs. the San Antonio Spurs, Brunson arguably put together the best NBA Finals performance of all time. In the clinching NBA Finals win, Brunson, in 41 minutes, scored 45 points, shot 14-27 from the field, 4-7 from 3-point range and made 13 free throws.
Brunson willed the Knicks back from 16 points down to victory and to a parade on Thursday.
Brunson tied Michael Jordan (1998) for the most points ever scored on the road in an NBA Finals-clinching game. As a result of his heroic effort, Brunson was named Finals MVP.
Throughout the Knicks 16-3 playoff run, Brunson was fabulous just as he has been during his first four seasons in the Big Apple. In four playoff appearances with New York and 61 games, Brunson has averaged 29.4 points per game, while shooting 46 percent from the field on 22.6 attempts, and 34.4 percent from three on 6.9 attempts. Also, Brunson has averaged 6.6 assists and 2.7 turnovers.
Brunson has established himself as the best playoff performer in the NBA.
Following the Knicks Game 5 comeback win over the Spurs, and their first NBA title in 53 years, Brunson was asked if he had anything to say about the critics who doubted he could be the No. 1 option on a championship team. Brunson responded with this: “I didn’t respond to them then; I’m damn sure not gonna respond to them now.”
