In the aftermath of a hard-fought playoff series, Jalen Brunson made it clear that his perspective on the New York Knicks' journey was not one of moral victory. The team's advancement to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years was not an achievement he wished to celebrate. Instead, Brunson emphasized the importance of recognizing the positive strides the Knicks made during the season, even as they fell short of their ultimate goal by six wins.
“I’m not sure ‘accomplished’ is the word I would use here, but I think the way this team progressed this year, for me it was fun,” Brunson reflected after the Knicks were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers in six games on Saturday night. “There were a lot of people saying we couldn’t do a lot of things. A lot of negativity around what we were trying to accomplish and the way we put blinders on and went to work, that’s something I was proud of with this team. I’m proud of how we stayed the course.”
The Knicks showcased a remarkable performance throughout the regular season, securing a total of 51 wins, their highest tally since the 2012-13 season. Despite their impressive record, the team entered the playoffs as largely overlooked contenders, primarily due to their 0-8 record against the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference—the defending champion Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
However, the Knicks shocked analysts and fans alike by defeating the Celtics in the second round, staging comebacks from 20-point deficits in each of the first two games at TD Garden. They pushed deeper into the spring than many anticipated, and although the losing locker room was filled with frustration and disappointment, a sense of optimism permeated the air, hinting at a promising future for the team.
This season marked a significant turning point for the Knicks, as it was the first time that Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges joined the Brunson-led core, which also consisted of Mitchell Robinson, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Miles McBride. With the entire roster under contract for the next season, Brunson is confident that the team can evolve and improve together.
“The most confident. Overconfident. Seriously,” Brunson stated about his faith in the team. “There’s not an ounce of any type of doubt that I’m not confident with this group.” He further expressed his appreciation for his teammates, highlighting their dedication to improvement. “We have a lot of guys who are on this team, and I feel like you guys always ask, ‘What do you work on whenever you come back?’ and stuff like that. And from what I’ve seen, no one’s really out there posting themselves about the things that they do. We have a lot of guys that just genuinely want to work hard to be better.”
As the Knicks reflect on their playoff journey, the focus now shifts to the future. With a strong core of players and Brunson’s leadership, there is a palpable sense of excitement about what lies ahead for the franchise. The Knicks have much to build on, and their fans are eager to see how this promising group will develop in the coming seasons.
