Jalen Brunson has never been the biggest name on the court, but in 2026 he became the biggest reason the New York Knicks lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
The point guard, listed at just 6 feet 2 inches, delivered a performance for the ages in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, scoring 45 points on 14-of-27 shooting while adding four three-pointers and 13 free throws.
It was a Herculean effort that will be remembered alongside the greatest closeout games in Finals history, and it sealed the franchise’s first championship in decades.
Brunson’s journey to that moment was anything but overnight. Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, he played college basketball at Villanova, where he won two national titles, before being drafted in the second round in 2018.
He spent his early seasons with the Dallas Mavericks, steadily building a reputation as a reliable scorer and floor general. Since joining the Knicks, he has evolved into a bona fide superstar, earning three All-Star selections and three All-NBA Second Team honours.
The 2025-26 campaign was his masterpiece. He averaged 28.4 points and 6.5 assists per game during the regular season, shooting 47.7 per cent from the field and 36.8 per cent from beyond the arc.
His play helped propel New York to a 20-8 start and kept the team near the top of the Eastern Conference. Along the way, he produced signature nights, including a 47-point, eight-assist, zero-turnover masterclass against the Miami Heat in December 2025, a performance that underscored his growing status as an MVP candidate.
What sets Brunson apart is not just the statistics but the manner in which he delivers them. He plays with a calm, almost stubborn refusal to shrink from the biggest moments. When the Knicks fell behind by 16 points in the first quarter of the championship-clinching game, and when he appeared to injure his ankle after landing on Victor Wembanyama’s foot, Brunson simply kept attacking.
That resilience, combined with his skill and leadership, has turned him from a second-round pick into a Finals MVP and a cornerstone of New York basketball. For the Knicks and their fans, the Brunson era is only just beginning.
