When Jalen Brunson first signed his four-year, $104 million contract with the New York Knicks back in July of 2022, many around the league were skeptical. At the time, people questioned whether Brunson was truly capable of being the lead star for a franchise desperate to return to relevance. Looking back now, that contract may have ended up being one of the best signings in NBA history.
Fast forward to today, and Brunson has led the Knicks to at least the second round of the playoffs in all four seasons with the organization. Last night, he added another chapter by helping lead New York to its first NBA Finals appearance in 27 years, officially cementing himself as one of the most impactful players this franchise has had in decades.
And somehow, the doubters still kept coming. After a Game 3 loss to the Atlanta Hawks back on April 23rd, many believed the Knicks were falling apart again. Their championship odds dropped to +3200, and criticism surrounded the team once more. Since that night? The Knicks have rattled off 11 straight wins, including back-to-back sweeps over the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now, New York waits for the winner between the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder in what feels like a heavyweight battle out West. The Knicks are likely hoping that the series stretches to seven games, giving them extra time to prepare and recover. But even after everything they’ve accomplished, New York still enters the Finals as an underdog. On FanDuel, the Knicks currently sit at +220 to win the NBA title.
The message at this point is pretty simple: if people still want to doubt Brunson and the Knicks, go ahead. They’ve been doubted for years, and all they’ve done is keep proving everyone wrong. If you are a Knicks fan, you can get into their first home NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden for a low price of $3700.
