There may be no NBA superstar more doubted and subsequently more vindicated than New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson. 

When Brunson was first signed by the Knicks in 2022 after the team's lengthy pursuit of a superstar to turn around the direction of the team, the reception to his signing was less than positive. 

The NBA media landscape was quick to jump on both the Knicks to declare the Brunson signing a mistake.

While he proved himself to be a dependable support piece for the Dallas Mavericks during the first four seasons of his career, even rising to be the one-two punch alongside Luka Doncic in the back court, Brunson didn't scream "superstar" at the time. 

Many were quick to point out that Brunson was undersized and decided that the didn't have the right athleticism to lead a team, with Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Harmon being one of the most publicized detractors, saying that winning with a "small guard like Brunson wasn't a recipe for success for the Knicks. 

Since then, though, Brunson has all but proved his doubters wrong.

As soon as he stepped foot in New York he rose to the occasion, earning himself three All-Star selections, MVP nods and widespread recognition as one of the most clutch players in the NBA and quickly cemented himself as possibly the most beloved athlete in New York sports. 

Now, Brunson has led the Knicks to their first Finals appearance in nearly three decades in one of the most dominant playoff runs in NBA history, earning Eastern Conference Finals MVP despite all his perceived flaws. 

Being doubted because of his size or his build is nothing new for Brunson and one of his best skills is both his ability to block out all of the negative noise while also staying level-headed when he does receive praise. 

"When there's negative things being said about you, it's important to ignore them. When they're positive things about you, it's easy to read them and feel good," Brunson said (via SNY_Knicks). "But you can't do one and not the other. Block it out as best you can."

Brunson's steadiness is one of his most important traits as a leader. Knicks head coach Mike Brown has praised Brunson for never getting "too high or too low" throughout the season and that stability and that focus on his goals is an example that he's set for his teammates that they've followed suit to great success. 

He is the soul of the Knicks and they wouldn't be anywhere close to the success they have now without him.

He's just four wins away from bringing the Knicks their first championship in over 50 years but not matter the circumstances, Brunson is sure to stay his regular steady self and deliver on the promise his signing made to the franchise all those years ago.