The New York Knicks’ hopes of a title run came crashing down on Sunday with a disappointing 130–109 loss to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7. For Jalen Brunson, it was a heartbreaking end to what he had hoped would be a spellbinding journey for the Knicks. Yet, it ultimately turned out to be an unsuccessful one.
Following the devastating loss, Brunson didn’t hold back in questioning the team’s success during the press conference. Though he is in the same table as Michael Jordan, to him, success is measured by championships.
“Did we win the championship? Did we get close? That’s my mindset. This is how it is,” he said firmly.
Brunson faced challenges during the game, suffering a fractured left hand that sidelined him for part of the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter. In addition to him, the Knicks were also dealing with injuries to Josh Hart and OG Anunoby.
Hemce, when asked if he considered the season an achievement despite the setbacks, Brunson’s response was straightforward: “No.”
The disappointment was evident in Brunson’s face, as he could only muster 17 points while shooting 6-of-17 from the field due to the injury. The collective injuries proved too much for the Knicks to overcome, ultimately ending their playoff run in disappointment.
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Jalen Brunson stands firm in support of Tom Thibodeau after Knicks’ playoff exit
Following the New York Knicks’ crushing defeat in Game 7 of the playoffs, head coach Tom Thibodeau has faced criticism for the team’s performance. Nevertheless, Jalen Brunson has come out strongly in defense of his coach, expressing overwhelming adulation for Thibodeau.
In his postgame press conference, the star guard left no doubt about where his allegiance lies.
“Thibs is the reason why we have that mindset…why night in & night out we fight to the best of our abilities…Don’t really care what people on the outside think…we go forward w/ what we believe’s best…Players in the locker room have his back no matter what,” he said.
While the Knicks fell short of their goal to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2000, one can’t overlook Brunson’s outstanding contributions on the court. The talented guard concluded his best season as a professional, averaging an impressive 28.7 points, 6.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game during the regular season.
Brunson’s excellence carried over into the playoffs, where he continued to shine. Throughout the postseason, he maintained an impressive stat line, averaging 33.7 points, 7.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. His contributions were instrumental in keeping the Knicks competitive in the playoffs before the unfortunate end.
