Jalen Brunson Sends Fiery Message Before Knicks-Cavaliers Game 1

The NBA Eastern Conference Finals kick off on Tuesday, May 19, and the New York Knicks are slated to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, the latter who are fresh off a Game 7 win over the Pistons to secure their spot in the Finals.

Both of these teams have big personalities and players on their teams. For the Knicks, the face of their franchise, of course, is Jalen Brunson.

Now that both of these teams know their opponent, they’re starting to speak out about what’s ahead. On Monday, May 18, Brunson spoke with media about the upcoming matchup.

Brunson started by saying of Cleveland, according to Kristian Winfield of the New York Daily News: “Tough team. Well coached. A lot of guys over there with playoff experience. It’s gonna be a tough battle.”

Then, he talked about Donovan Mitchell and what it was going to be like to play against him. It’s nothing new. He’s been up against Mitchell before.

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“He’s an extremely talented offensive player,” Brunson said. “He takes tough shots, and he has the talent and the ability to make those tough shots.”

It’s all true. Mitchell has been on fire in the postseason and just came off a Game 7 win in Detroit that saw him score 26 points. He also has a history with the Knicks. Mitchell had two 30-point games against New York during the regular season.

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So, Brunson is very familiar with Mitchell and this Cavs team. He knows that there’s a challenge ahead, but it’s something the Knicks have the talent to overcome.

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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 4:44 PM.