Jalen Brunson carried the Knicks in the fourth quarter — just as he has since he’s arrived in New York.
Brunson made shot after shot as the Knicks clawed their way back from another deficit against the Spurs to claim Game 5 of the NBA Finals, 94-90.
Brunson, who finished with 45 points and was unanimously named NBA Finals MVP, was emotional in his postgame interview on ESPN.
“I don’t know what I am feeling. I’m in awe. Whenever people counted us out, we came back and did something about it,” Brunson said.
The Spurs, once again, had the Knicks down double digits in Game 5 but New York pushed past them with a 29-18 fourth quarter to claim the franchise’s first championship in 53 years.
“My confidence comes from my work ethic,” the 29-year-old Brunson said. “All I can think of is all the hours in the summer, every summer since I ever can remember making this a reality. I’d just be alone in the gym.”
Brunson did not have an answer for what it meant to accomplish this goal with his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson.
ESPN’s Lisa Salters said the answer was obvious as tears streamed down Brunson’s face as a picture-in-picture showed Rick joyously celebrating.
“You can see it,” Brunson said, repeating Salters’ line.