The New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 124-113 on Tuesday night to win the franchise’s first NBA Cup Championship.
Perhaps no player did more to strengthen their league MVP case during the in-season tournament than Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who was also named NBA Cup MVP.
Brunson averaged 33.2 points, 5.8 assists and shot 53% from the field in six Cup games. He’s the third NBA Cup MVP in league history, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo (2024) and LeBron James (2023).
Brunson had a strong game against San Antonio, scoring 25 points and dishing out eight assists in the title game. He also grabbed four rebounds and was a team-high +15 in 41 minutes.
But his performance in the Semifinals against Orlando on Saturday cemented his case for the award. He led the Knicks with 40 points on 16/27 shooting, along with eight assists and four rebounds.
Knicks coach Mike Brown made his case for Brunson after the Magic win, stating that his star didn’t get enough respect from the national media in the MVP race.
The two-time All-Star is averaging 28.8 points, 3.1 rebounds and 6.4 assists this season. He’s shooting 48.7% from the field and 37.6% from 3-point range. He’s scored at least 25 points in six straight games, dating back to a 119-104 win against the Charlotte Hornets on Dec. 3.
Brunson has been the offensive engine for one of the league’s hottest teams. The Knicks have won six consecutive games and 10 of their last 11. New York (18-7) is in second place in the Eastern Conference, 2.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons (21-5).