Jalen Brunson kept it fairly brief in his postgame interview following  the Knicks 115-111 loss in game three of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden. 

“The most important thing is that we were going to learn regardless, because we knew there were things that we were going to have to improve on going into the next game,” said Brunson. 

The frustration was evident for Brunson during the game, and realistically, throughout this series, he’s still kept that poise postgame and demonstrated why he is the leader of this squad.

Despite wearing dark-tinted shades and expressing far less energy in his presser as compared to his whimsical interviews with his Villanova buddies in their victories prior, this collective understanding that everyone needs to improve is why they have already made it even further than the 1999 team.

Brunson is by no means excluding himself from that statement as well, as he hopes to find a more consistent rhythm, especially on the offensive end. While the numbers indicate his ability to attack the rim at will or hit his spot-up shots on the drive, it’s his efficiency that has been alarming, to say the least. 

Through the first three games of the finals, Brunson has dropped 82 points and dished out 13 assists. Yet, he has scored those 82 points on a total of 81 shots for a mere 37% from the floor while also going just 5-for-16 from the floor. Pair that with his 13 turnovers, and he has not been in full control as the team’s primary ball-handler as well. 

However, that has been overlooked because of the clutch gene in crunch time. You look at his own 8-0 run in game one that separated them from the Spurs. In game two, he scored the final five points, including the go-ahead free throw after stealing a bad pass from Victor Wembanyama. 

Even in game three, he still dropped 12 points in the fourth quarter that included a triple to keep it a one-score game with just over 30 seconds left. No one questions Brunson’s ability to come through because he continuously puts the team on his back when called up. 

In game three, the primary difference was their lack of effort. In front of a crazed crowd of 19,000+, the Knicks gave them nothing to cheer for in the early stages of the fourth. Picking up three quick team fouls in barely over a minute and missing their first six shots allowed the Spurs to hold a two-possession lead for nearly the rest of the game. 

Brunson’s supporting cast also didn’t contribute down the stretch outside of OG Anunoby. Karl Anthony Towns has been physical all series, yet he disappeared in the final frame. While his presence on the glass has helped them win that battle the last two games, he has yet to put up a single point in the fourth quarter this series. 

You also factor in the questionable officiating that saw the Spurs out shoot the Knicks 24-8 at the charity stripe in the second half which only worsened their pent-up frustration. Despite the lack of consistent calls and Head Coach Mike Brown’s potential fine-worthy statements postgame, Brunson will need to see more consistency from his team as well as himself. 

Still in the driver’s seat, Brunson’s recognition is key going forward, resembling that “power of friendship” playstyle that can carry them to the prized possession.