Jalen Brunson Reacts to Winning NBA Finals MVP and Championship

The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals 4-1 to win the 2026 NBA championship. The Knicks won the series in dramatic fashion as they came back from multiple double-digit deficits to win the series. 

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was the leader for most of the comebacks in the series and for much of the playoffs, and his heroic efforts didn't go unnoticed as he won the Finals MVP award. 

Brunson is a player who has been doubted by much of the NBA community in the past due to his size and his past shortcomings in the playoffs, but this season was different, as he played the best basketball of his career. After the game, Brunson expressed his gratitude for the Knicks organization. 

Throughout the Finals, Jalen Brunson averaged 32.6 points per game, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists. He was a player who was clearly the leader of this Knicks team on and off the court. 

For much of the series, Brunson constantly reiterated the Knicks' mindset, taking it one game at a time. This was a team that relied on each other and their past experiences to find success in the playoffs. 

On the court, Jalen Brunson was the player who took the game under control for New York. He was the one who possessed the ball in high-pressure situations, and more often than not, he delivered and gave the Knicks wins from his clutch plays.  

In July 2024, Jalen Brunson took a massive $113 million pay cut when he signed his extension with the Knicks, showing his commitment to what the Knicks were doing in order to build a championship later. 

Months later, the Knicks acquired Karl-Anthony Towns from the Minnesota Timberwolves, who turned out to be a pivotal player for New York in the Finals. Towns stepped up to the challenge against Spurs star Victor Wembanyama and was finding success with his physical play inside. 

Brunson's pay cut also helped the Knicks afford players like Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby, who played big roles throughout the Knicks' entire postseason run. Without Brunson's selflessness, the Knicks would have a harder time constructing the roster they have now. 

Jalen Brunson has cemented his legacy with the Knicks organization after this playoff run, and he proved that smaller guards can still lead NBA teams to a championship. He gave New York hope after years of disappointment and is now considered as one of, if not the greatest, Knicks of all time.