Jalen Brunson's rise from doubts to Knicks Finals hero in 2026

Jalen Brunson leads the New York Knicks to their first NBA Finals since 1999 with clutch performances against the Spurs.

From Villanova to Madison Square Garden Jalen Brunson once doubted himself just like his critics questioned his NBA potential despite winning two national titles and a player of the year award in college. Becky Hammon never considered asking if a 6-foot-2, stocky point guard could handle being the best player on a championship-contending Knicks team, especially now as New York stands two wins from its first title since 1973. When the Finals tip off tonight at 8:30 p.m. ET from Madison Square Garden on ABC, the league will see if his college success can translate to the biggest stage. Talent evaluators and general managers had already decided his Villanova achievements wouldn’t carry over to the NBA before he was drafted in 2018. ## The draft night surprise for the Mavericks The second-round draft position seemed to confirm what critics said about Brunson, as three of his Villanova teammates were chosen in the first round. Then-Dallas Mavericks GM Donnie Nelson saw something different in the young guard, comparing his intangibles to Steve Nash and Tim Hardaway. "All I know is he had the same things that Hardaway and Nash had -- heart, brains and balls," Nelson said. "Those are things that generally don't fit into an analytics model." Dallas landed Brunson at No. 33, a steal Nelson still marvels at today. ## Early struggles and Luka’s dominance Brunson’s rookie-year doubts deepened when he stepped into the Mavericks’ facility and saw fellow rookie Luka Doncic for the first time. He went through his usual routine — jump-stops, spins, jab steps — but everything changed when Doncic took the court. "Just seeing how effortlessly he did everything, it really made me question myself," Brunson admitted. "I had to do all this work just to be in this position." The contrast between their games forced Brunson to decide: dwell on self-doubt or get to work. ## The turning point in Dallas Brunson chose action over overthinking, embracing the grind as his path forward. "The biggest experience you get," he said, "is actually going through things." His college roommate and longtime teammate Josh Hart believes that mindset is why Brunson could succeed where others failed in New York. "Because I don't think he came in that way. He doesn't care about it," Hart explained. "He just wants to win. When you have that humility, all the other stuff takes care of itself." ## From Liza Minnelli to Frank Sinatra There is nothing wrong with Liza Minnelli’s version of "New York, New York," a song about struggle and vulnerability. But Frank Sinatra’s remake turned it into a swaggering anthem for someone who already owned the town. Brunson’s journey mirrors that shift: from Dallas, where he toiled in Doncic’s shadow, to New York, where he now stands atop the basketball world. His climb from doubted underdog to championship leader feels earned, every shot and inch of space fought for on the court. ## New York’s point guard legacy New York has always revered point guards, and Jalen Brunson embodies that ethos with grit and New York-style cunning. A Tribe Called Quest front man Q-Tip, born and raised in the city, sees Brunson as the quintessential New York floor general. "His leadership and his ability to take over the game with a gritty, New York City guile, is quintessential New York City point guard play," Q-Tip said. His deep connection to the city’s culture and competitive spirit resonates with fans who value heart over hype. ## The Sinatra effect in the Garden New York writer Fran Lebowitz, who grew up dreaming of becoming a great writer in Manhattan, sees Brunson as the city personified. "New York is a hard place to live in," she said. "Just getting to the dry cleaners -- if you can find one -- is a triumph. Jalen Brunson is the personification of New York -- he's smart, he's talented, and he won't take no for an answer. He's us -- except he's very good at basketball." Brunson’s rise from New Brunswick, New Jersey, to Knicks stardom mirrors the dreams of countless New Yorkers. ## A father’s blueprint for greatness Brunson’s father, Rick, who once played for the Knicks in 1999, built his son for this moment through relentless training and high expectations. "Rick had high expectations," said Baker Dunleavy, Villanova’s GM during Brunson’s college career. "He would never shy away from saying, 'I have a different plan for Jalen than for me. I don't want him to be me as a player.'" Rick’s drills, even forcing Jalen to shoot left-handed as a right-handed eater and writer, were designed to create a player unlike himself. ## Lessons from the blacktop to the Garden Old home videos show Rick Brunson pushing young Jalen through grueling workouts on an outdoor court in Charlottesville, Virginia, where Rick coached at the University of Virginia. His mother Sandra filmed these sessions, catching moments where Jalen complained but never stopped. "I think at any moment, if Jalen would've just backed out and said, 'Listen, I don't love this. I don't want to do this,' I think Rick would've relented," Dunleavy recalled. "Even in that video that's become so popular of Rick throwing the ball to the other end of the court and Jalen going to get it. He shrugged a little bit or whatever, but he just kept going." ## USA Basketball and the MVP moment Sean Ford, USA Basketball’s men’s national team director since 2001, saw Brunson’s potential early and selected him for the 2015 FIBA U-19 World Championship, where Brunson won MVP on a roster with future rival Jayson Tatum. Ford’s respect for Brunson grew when Brunson adjusted his wedding plans to play for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. "[Villanova coach] Jay Wright called and was like, 'I can't f---ing believe he's changing his wedding to play for you.'" Wright added, "It's like his dad made him mentally tough, Jay gave him the approach to life that made him selfless, then Jalen has just taken care of the basketball part and everything else." ## The Mavericks’ missed opportunity Donnie Nelson began scouting Brunson in high school and admired the hustle of Rick’s agent Leon Rose, who once slept on Nelson’s couch trying to secure Rick an NBA job. Nelson saw the same DNA in Jalen, noting his leadership and teammates’ willingness to follow him. "It's not just decision-making on the court, it's the way you could tell his teammates would take a bullet for him," he said. But Dallas struggled to balance Brunson and Doncic defensively, leading to playoff struggles and trade rumors around Brunson. ## The free agency gamble that paid off After the 2021 season, Dallas preferred delaying contract talks to evaluate their championship window. When they finally offered Brunson an extension after the trade deadline, he declined it, having become a starter and delivering his best season yet. The Knicks, meanwhile, had been targeting Brunson for months and cleared $30 million in cap space on draft day 2022 to sign him in a complex deal involving Kemba Walker and Jalen Duren. New York offered more than money — it offered family. ## The Knicks’ family-first approach Leon Rose, who once slept on an executive’s couch trying to get Rick Brunson an NBA job, became one of the most powerful agents before joining the Knicks as president in March 2020. He hired Rick as an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau’s staff less than a month before Jalen’s free agency in 2022. "I think Jalen had a loyalty to the Mavs because they'd drafted him, but the Knicks were his actual family," said a Mavericks source. When Brunson signed a four-year, $105 million deal, critics called it an overpay for an unproven lead option. ## Clutch shots and championship dreams In the 2026 NBA Finals, Brunson and the Knicks lead the Spurs 2-0 behind two iconic shots. In Game 1, despite leaving early with a knee and ankle injury and poor shooting, he sealed a 105-95 win with an impossible floater over 6-9 Devin Vassell in the fourth quarter. In Game 2, after another tough shooting night, he crossed over 6-7 Spurs forward Julian Champagnie and hit a leaning floater over Vassell with 39 seconds left to tie the game at 104. He then made the go-ahead free throw with 9.5 seconds remaining after stripping Victor Wembanyama to secure a 105-104 win. "Every single day, we chip away and try to be the best that we can be," Brunson said after the Friday victory. "Even with the series now, next game, mindset has to be 0-0 again." ## The Knicks’ minutes puzzle solved Former Knick Jamal Crawford believes Brunson thrives in New York because he is comfortable and empowered. "He's comfortable there," Crawford said. "They empowered him. They believed in him. He's got guys on the team from Villanova that he knows and who fit his play style. He's got his dad on the bench who knows exactly what buttons to push to get him going. He knows Leon. So with that comfortability, I think you're going to get the best of him." Comfort is what the Knicks built their championship hopes around. ## Jalen’s game-day rituals and influences Brunson has made his pregame routine a blend of personal touches and external inspiration. He listens to songs from Justin Bieber’s *Purpose* album before games, a habit he kept from Villanova after his sister Erica recommended it. He also enjoys hugs from *Law & Order* star Mariska Hargitay when she’s courtside and orders a peach Snapple, spicy sweet chili Doritos, and a toasted everything bagel with egg, cheese, hash browns, and spicy mayo from his favorite bodega. His postgame playlist even includes a Bible verse, though he hasn’t revealed which one. On Jimmy Fallon’s show, he revealed his off-court kindness, but in the Garden, he stays laser-focused. ## Leadership lessons from the captain When the Knicks named Brunson team captain in August 2024, they brought in icons like Derek Jeter, Eli Manning, and Mark Messier to share advice. Knicks Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing delivered a two-minute video titled "Just Be Jalen," offering the best guidance. "The thing about this city, Jalen," Ewing said, "isn't just about what you accomplish here. But how you accomplish it. Like a true New Yorker, you dare people to doubt you -- and go about your business."