Jalen Brunson has led the New York Knicks to within two wins of their first NBA championship since 1973, silencing the doubters who questioned his ability to be the best player on a title team. The point guard has united the city of New York, with fans of all backgrounds celebrating the team's run to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999.
A City United
On every New York street, people of every race, color, creed, nationality, religion, economic status and political affiliation are unified in excitement as the Knicks seek their first NBA title since 1973. Older fans break out their Patrick Ewing, Charles Oakley and John Starks jerseys, while younger fans sport the names of Brunson, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns. Chants of 'MVP!' fill the air in every borough whenever Brunson steps to the free-throw line. Watch parties have sprung up on sidewalks, in parks and on street corners. All of New York is, as rapper JadaKiss puts it, 'outside'.
Overcoming Criticism
Brunson's brilliant run has earned praise from analysts, writers and broadcasters, but that wasn't always the case. When he joined the Knicks in 2022, many media members criticized the move. Stephen A. Smith berated the organization for hiring Brunson and his father, Rick, saying, 'The Knicks are acting like he's KD. Is he KD? Is he Kawhi Leonard? Jalen Brunson isn't the answer.' Others like Frank Isola, Nick Wright, Colin Cowherd and Brian Windhorst echoed similar sentiments, questioning whether Brunson was worth the contract or capable of leading a team to a championship. Kendrick Perkins was one of the few early supporters.
Becky Hammon, a six-time WNBA All-Star and three-time champion coach with the Las Vegas Aces, offered a nuanced critique: Brunson, listed at 6ft 2in, might be too small to be the best player on a championship team. She cited Hall of Famers Allen Iverson, Steve Nash and John Stockton as elite players who never won a title as the unquestioned leader. While acknowledging Stephen Curry as an exception, she said in December 2023, 'If your best player is small, you're not winning.' She has since maintained that position, even as Brunson led the Knicks to the Finals, saying in May, 'I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.'
Brunson's Response on the Court
Brunson has let his play do the talking. This season, he made the All-NBA second team (with a strong case for first team), won the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference finals MVP after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists against Cleveland, and led the Knicks to a 13-game winning streak that has them two wins from the championship. In the NBA Finals, he delivered clutch performances: 30 points in Game 1 to steal home-court advantage, and a game-sealing steal and free throw in Game 2 to give the Knicks a 2-0 series lead.
A Message to Young Athletes
The point is not to castigate the media but to send a message to young athletes who give too much credence to what 'they' say. Criticism has always been part of sports, from newspaper columnists to talk radio to cable TV hot-takers. But now, young athletes face 24/7 negative attention on social media, leading many to depression and loss of love for their sport. Brunson's example shows that opinions are just opinions. He has proven that hard work and self-belief can overcome doubt. For Knicks fans, this playoff run has cemented Brunson's reputation as one of the franchise's greatest postseason performers and a premier clutch player. The hope is that his story resonates with all young players: don't let haters discourage you; let the hate motivate you to greatness.
