Mike Brown’s “thin air” reaction to Jaylen Brunson going full Steph Curry

NEW YORK – Only 20 hours later winning the NBA Cupthe New York Knicks reported again. The players knew that regardless of the result, they would be playing their third game in four nights on Friday. Such were the woes of the 2025 NBA Cup champions, who earned a packed schedule with their success in Las Vegas.

Despite the obvious exhaustion, potentially caused by both the schedule and carrying the prize money, the team persevered on Thursday. The Knicks fell behind Indiana Pacers with as many as 16 points earlier. Jalen Brunson made that deficit irrelevant with another heroic “clutch” hit.

The NBA Cup MVP hit a shot on Andrew Nembhardt with 4.4 seconds left. Nembhard broke New York hearts with a three-pointer to take Game 4 of the 2024 first-round series between the two teams, sweetening Brunson’s revenge on Thursday night.

Head coach Mike Brown he told reporters after the game Brunson told him on his way out of the huddle that he was “getting this win.” The point guard followed that up with the game-winner, which his coach claimed further showed the point guard is a “true MVP.”

The team did not beat the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. The 116-107 loss was just New York’s second loss at home in 15 games so far. Before the game, however, Brown noted that Brunson’s Babe Ruth-like heroics left the guard with few peers among the players he previously coached.

“It’s special. I’m pretty sure.” Steph has done it before“I’m sure Bronn, you know, in the times I was with him. Kobe, but that’s rare, when you talk about confidence. To be able to say something like that and then actually go out and do it.”

Jalen Brunson rejects “1A” narratives after NBA Cup MVP

Steph Curry, LeBron Jamesand Kobe Bryant are the pantheon of NBA legends. Brunson has led the Knicks to greater heights than any other star to play home games at Madison Square Garden this century.

A conference finals appearance and a 19-8 start under Brown clearly don’t qualify Brunson for more advanced comparisons to the all-time greats at this point. His performance as a Knick during several playoff series, however, certainly indicates that those discussions may one day become relevant.

The 29-year-old is a perennial underdog. He spoke openly about how every discussion about his performance is laced with “buts” that motivates him to continue defying the odds that others have decided he must overcome.

In recent years, several highly regarded, longtime basketball pros have spoken out against Brunson’s status as an NBA superstar. Champions like Becky Hammon couldn’t praise him for a great game without adding that he was “too short” to carry a championship streak.

Brunson renewed his career commitment to rejecting the limitations placed on him by others in Las Vegas. When the 6-foot-2 guard received his Cup MVP trophy after defeating the San Antonio Spurs, he showed that he can indeed captain a title-winning team.

Nikola Jokic, Giannis “Robin” Antetokounmpo and many other NBA superstars “couldn’t do it” until they did. Like them, Brunson will need an NBA title to completely dismiss the narratives. It just won’t be over until the two-time All-Star hoists the trophy in June.

However, between Villanova’s 2015 U19 World Cup and the league’s third iteration of the season, Brunson has topped four different major tournaments during his playing career.

The Larry O’Brien Trophy is his most coveted. New York’s decision not to hang up the banner to win the Cup underscores their particular focus on the NBA title. They stated that focus when they told fans they had fired former head coach Tom Thibodeau.

Brunson is clearly capable of playing at a “true MVP” level, as Brown put it. For the Knicks captain, an NBA championship would nullify much of the discourse surrounding his potential. But more importantly, it would conclude a lifelong quest that transcended a generation.

Tyler Kolek praises the “Jalen Brunson school” by Nick Nourse

Brunson wasn’t the only Knicks guard to receive compliments from the head coach ahead of Friday night’s game. 76ers coach Nick Nurse praised Tyler Kolek when asked about his recent play. Nurse joked with reporters in New York that the Marquette guard was seemingly taking advice from another Big East product on the Knicks’ roster.

“He seems to be going to point guard Jalen Brunson’s school,” Nurse said of Kolek. “He plays hard, he’s athletic, he’s confident, he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.” The championship coach added that he saw “a lot of positives” when reviewing the film.

While Kolek may not ascend from second-round pick to MVP candidate anytime soon, he is earning his rewards. Brown lined up Kolek alongside Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mitchell Robinson in the first half against Philadelphia. The setup was able to run smoother than ever.

The 76ers defense respected Kolek as a drive-and-shoot threat, preventing aggressive double teams on Nick’s drive. This unlocked his true role as the table-setter for the team’s attack, where he was chosen to shine.

New York has time to decide whether, or to what extent, it needs to improve its depth at guard. The team interest in backup guards like Jose Alvarado signals a willingness to improve someone like Kolek.

Will the recent play of home team Nick be enough to keep him out of trade talks – or will it just further convince the opposing team that they should swing?