The celebration was not only in the arena when the buzzer sounded on the conclusion of the Knicks' 130-93 demolition of the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was going on in the living room, in the backyard, in the front yard, throughout New York.

Jalen Brunson's wife, Ali Brunson, snapped a quiet but emotional moment for her Instagram story. The image featured their little girl, Jordyn, playing with chalk on wooden steps, wearing a Jalen Brunson No. 11 Knicks jersey, along with the family dog.

"I can't wait to tell Jordyn her dad is going to the NBA Finals," Ali wrote alongside the image.

The backing of such sentiment makes perfect sense since we don't need to figure out what Jalen Brunson's driving meant to this franchise. He has led the Knicks to their 33 playoff wins since joining the team in 2022, improving their competitive record over their last 25 years by two wins.

The four-game sweep showcased New York's total dominance. New York went on to win all four by double digits, with the biggest blowout coming in Game 4: a 37-point victory. The Knicks came into the Finals with the highest scoring lead in this Finals.

The Finals streak also comes with a personal, deepest sense. Rick Brunson, Jalen's dad, was a guard on the 1999 Finals team with the Knicks.

Now, 27 years later, his son is leading the same franchise this time around, and it's undeniably his own, at least at the helm! But the Brunson story doesn't end with that.

Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks to NBA Finals Glory

When the Knicks signed Jalen Brunson four years ago, the reaction was far from warm. A four-year, $104 million deal for a Dallas guard who had never averaged more than 16.3 points in a season raised eyebrows across the league.

"It's an honor to be here in this city and this organization," Brunson said, seated alongside fellow Villanova alumni Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges after the sweep. "I wouldn't trade it for the world."

"We're still writing our story, but I like the journey that we're on right now," Brunson said after the series clincher.

He controlled the Cavaliers the whole series, with an average of 25.5 points and 7.8 assists. He also took home the trophy for Eastern Conference Finals MVP.

Game 1 was a turning point for him and the Knicks. They were faced with a 22-point deficit, and his 38 points helped his team take home the win.

Can Jalen Brunson lead the way for the Knicks to get their first championship in more than 50 years?

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Written by

Utsav Gupta

Edited by

Utsav Gupta