Jalen Brunson was part of the Knicks’ last NBA Finals team — as a toddler. Now he’s their star.
Jalen Brunson, now a star guard for the New York Knicks, has a unique connection to the team's history as he was a toddler during their last NBA Finals appearance in 1999. His father, Rick Brunson, was a backup guard on that team, and Jalen often spent time in the locker room as a child. Now, at 29, he has led the Knicks back to the Finals, showcasing his growth into a premier player in the league.
- ▪Jalen Brunson was two years old when his father played for the Knicks' last NBA Finals team in 1999.
- ▪The Knicks have reached the Finals after winning 11 consecutive playoff games by an average margin of over 25 points.
- ▪Brunson was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the conference finals, with Knicks legend Patrick Ewing presenting the trophy.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
BasketballJalen Brunson was part of the Knicks’ last NBA Finals team — as a toddler. Now he’s their star.Brunson spent time around his father’s 1999 New York team, the last to reach the championship round, as a 2-year-old.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Leila Register / NBC News; Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 27, 2026, 6:30 AM EDTBy Andrew GreifAfter the New York Knicks advanced Monday to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, their star guard Jalen Brunson appeared calm amid the team’s celebration.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Brunson, after all, had been here before — when he was 2. Brunson is 29 now.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at NBC News — Top.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from NBC News — Top
