Jalen Brunson Asked About Doubters After 45-Point NBA Finals Performance

The New York Knicks secured the franchise’s first NBA title since 1973 on Saturday night, taking down the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

The Knicks were led to victory by yet another stunning performance from Jalen Brunson, who scored 45 points in the closeout game at San Antonio’s Frost Bank Center. The All-Star point guard averaged 32.6 points for the series, enough to earn him Finals MVP honors.

Throughout his NBA career, fans and analysts have questioned Brunson’s ability to lead the Knicks to the promised land as a clear No. 1 option. But with New York’s NBA Finals victory, he finally put those doubts to rest.

“I didn’t respond to them then and I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now,” Brunson said when asked about these doubters in his postgame press conference.

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Brunson and the Knicks secured a 94-90 victory in Game 5, erasing yet another double-digit lead for the Spurs. San Antonio led by double digits in all five games of the NBA Finals, but only notched one win at Madison Square Garden in Game 3.

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Josh Hart finished Game 5 with a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double. OG Anunoby, the hero of the Knicks’ stunning comeback victory in Game 4, scored 11 points to go along with his eight rebounds. Mikal Bridges also finished in double figures with 14 points in the closeout win.

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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 1:15 PM.