Jalen Brunson Delivers Message to Knicks Organization After Reaching NBA Finals
For years, the pressure of carrying the New York Knicks came with more questions than certainty. But for Jalen Brunson, the journey to the NBA Finals has become validation not only for himself, but also for the organization that believed in him from the start.
The Knicks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers in dominant fashion, 130-93. As the team advanced to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, Brunson reflected less on personal success and more on the trust the franchise placed in him when he arrived.
The 3-time NBA All-Star was asked how he feels after the Knicks decided to build a roster around him. "The belief the organization has in me has been amazing," Brunson responded. "It's something I don't take for granted and it's something that not a lot of people get the opportunity to do so."
"The belief the organization has in me has been amazing. It's something I don't take for granted and it's something that not a lot of people get the opportunity to do so."
— SNY Knicks (@sny_knicks) May 26, 2026
- Jalen Brunson pic.twitter.com/gP5gEmoZg3
The 29-year-old was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2018. He then joined the Knicks in 2022 as a free agent after his father, Rick Brunson, joined the New York coaching staff. Brunson continued to share how he feels honored to be part of the franchise and the city.
"Obviously, these guys have my back. Wouldn't change it for the world," said the Knicks star about his teammates. The team has consistently shown a collective effort rather than functioning as a single-player-focused franchise. Throughout the series, every starter had scored more than 10 points except in Game 4, when Josh Hart managed only 6 points.
The rest of the squad continued their scoring spree as Brunson, along with Mikal Bridges, scored 15 points. Meanwhile, Karl-Anthony Towns led the team in scoring with 19 points, while OG Anunoby added 17 points. The Knicks completed another sweep in the NBA playoffs with a 4-0 series win. They have now won 11 straight playoff games, having also swept the Philadelphia 76ers in the previous round.
Even without a massive scoring night, Brunson still managed to surpass the 100-point mark in the series along with Donovan Mitchell. The Knicks star totaled 102 points across the four games while also recording a series-high 31 assists. Now, New York heads to the Finals for the first time in over two decades since its loss to the San Antonio Spurs in 1999.
Ironically, the same matchup could happen again if the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs advance past the Oklahoma City Thunder in the Western Conference finals, which is currently tied 2-2. As Brunson looks to win the Knicks an NBA Championship, he would also love to rewrite history by potentially defeating the Spurs in the Finals.
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 9:37 AM.