Jalen Brunson gets emotional after Knicks’ historic Game 4 win, pays tribute to fallen friend
· Yahoo Sports
Jalen Brunson had just helped the Knicks pull off one of the greatest comebacks in NBA Finals history, but his thoughts after Game 4 were far from the court.
New York erased a 29-point deficit to beat San Antonio 107-106, the largest comeback ever recorded in a Finals game.
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Before Brunson spoke about the win, he paused to remember Jonathan, a young fan from North Carolina, he had recently connected with through Make-A-Wish.
Jalen Brunson tribute adds weight to Knicks’ win
Brunson opened his press conference by explaining that he had been asked to send Jonathan a video message, but decided to FaceTime him instead.
“Before we start… My thoughts & prayers are with a friend of mine I got to meet last week. Jonathan from North Carolina. From the Make-A-Wish Foundation, they asked me to make a video. But something told me to Facetime… I got the pleasure to do so… Quick call but well worth it. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family… May God rest his soul.”
When a reporter tried to ask the next question, Brunson had to pause again. He could only say, “Sorry…” as he composed himself.
Jalen Brunson details around Jonathan stay private
Public details about Jonathan are limited to his first name, his North Carolina connection, and the Make-A-Wish link Brunson mentioned.
That restraint matters. Brunson’s emotion said enough, and the moment showed why that short FaceTime call clearly stayed with him.
On a night filled with noise and chaos inside Madison Square Garden, the Knicks captain turned the room toward a family dealing with loss.
Jalen Brunson’s Finals MVP case has gotten complicated
Brunson’s performance still deserves its place in the story. He scored 36 points with seven assists in Game 4, dragging New York back before OG Anunoby finished the job with a tip-in at 1.2 seconds.
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesThrough four Finals games, Brunson is averaging 29.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and five assists. He remains the betting favorite at around minus-145, but Anunoby has the current NBA ladder edge.
Anunoby is averaging 23.8 points and four rebounds, and his 33-point Game 4 included the defining play of the series. Karl-Anthony Towns remains credible too, averaging 15.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
The Knicks are one win from their first title since 1973. Brunson is close to the sport’s biggest individual Finals honor, but his most human moment after Game 4 came before any award question was asked.
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