Jalen Brunson, pick number 33 in the draft, let go by Dallas: some thought he wasn’t a franchise man. Now he is an NBA champion, MVP of the Finals, hero of New York. He finished the series against the Spurs averaging 32.6 points per game, including 11.2 in the fourth quarter. And he was decisive when it counted throughout the season, even winning the “Clutch” player of the year award, the best in finals. Look at him on the bench: no gestures of frustration or negative body language, he continually talks to his teammates, he’s positive. Brunson’s ability to understand defenses and find counters during a playoff series is impressive. He did it once again in the Finals: in the first two games he averaged 25 points on 34% shooting and 23% from three, while in the next three he averaged 37.7 points, shooting 48% from the field and an extraordinary 52% from beyond the arc. In the summer of 2024, Brunson gave up approximately $113 million by signing an early extension instead of waiting for free agency. A decision that gave the Knicks more salary flexibility to build the team that went on to win the title. And then credit goes to Leon Rose, the man who built it one piece at a time.
