What a night and what a journey for the New Brunswick native Jalen Brunson. He has been told throughout his career that he is too small and that he can’t be the number-one option on a championship team. He proved everyone wrong by doing just that. He added his name among New York legends with this playoff run this season. The Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals, their first championship since 1973, ending a 53-year drought.
Brunson was the star of the show in game five as he tallied 45 points and shot 51.9 percent from the field as the Knicks beat the Spurs 94-90 to win the series 4-1 in San Antonio. Throughout this entire series, everyone doubted the Knicks in the same way they have doubted Brunson and his ability to be the number-one option. What they did was prove everyone wrong; they also brought New York and New Jersey closer than ever.
Not only did Brunson bring back hope and glory for Knicks basketball and the city of New York, but he did it alongside his father, Rick Brunson, who is an assistant coach for the Knicks. This championship represents the resilience and determination of New York and New Jersey natives, and not allowing people to write you off, even when you are down by 29 points.
The kid from New Brunswick brought the championship home when they needed it the most.
On the other side of the finals is a rookie who is playing like a 10-year vet. Dylan Harper, the Franklin Lakes native, was the driving force behind the Spurs offense, dropping 25 points in game five. He has been great throughout the playoffs and is a huge reason why the Spurs made it this far.
Harper, after this playoff run and falling short, looks like a franchise player for San Antonio, and I won’t be surprised if he is the starting guard moving forward. His 25 points were not enough this go around, but he will be a great player and have a great career if this is how it’s starting for him.
The Knicks won in five, and New York is revived as the best city in the world that wins championships.
