New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson remains composed following a dramatic Game 4 in the NBA Finals, where the Knicks achieved the largest comeback in championship history. Despite holding a 3-1 lead over the San Antonio Spurs, Brunson stresses the importance of viewing the series as tied at ‘0-0’.
“As a team, you have to hold each other accountable. Whatever’s being said, positive or negative, you can’t really think about or worry too much,” Brunson told NBC News. With the trophy in sight, his focus is unwavering. Addressing fans’ expectations for a win, he added, “The fans are going to be the fans, but for us, we got to do our jobs.”
Game 4 proved emotional, as New York overcame a 29-point deficit to secure a 107-106 victory. Brunson led with 36 points, including crucial shots in the final quarter. Remarkably, the Knicks improved to 2-0 in this postseason when trailing by 20 or more in the fourth quarter.
“First of all, it’s a position that we really don’t want to be in, but we just keep fighting,” Brunson said. “And now we’re going to continue giving it everything we got. Regardless, even if we don’t win Game 4, I feel like the habits that got us back into the game could have carried over into Game 5.”
Brunson emphasized the significance of mindset and team habits: “It’s all about the habits that we create and we do in situations, but it starts with just the mentality of it, just giving it all, knowing that you can be down 29 and claw all the way back,” he continued.
While he hasn’t reached peak performance this Finals, averaging 29.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game, his field goal percentage stands at 39.6% against a tough Spurs defense. Despite this, his Game 4 efforts have propelled the Knicks toward their first championship in over five decades, with Brunson staying focused on the task at hand.
When asked about the importance of Knicks fans should Game 4 be the season’s final home game, Brunson stated: “Obviously I love our fans, and they mean the world to me and to this organization. They deserve it, but I think most importantly, I just think that I just got to do what I’ve done and focus on what I got to do, and then I’ll answer your question later.”