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If there was ever a time for Jalen Brunson to clap back, Saturday night was the night.With yet another epic performance — one that capped an epic postseason run — Brunson, the captain of the New York Knicks, obliterated the narratives that have clouded his positioning as one of the premier stars in the NBA.Brunson won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award on Saturday, June 13 after he dropped 45 points in New York’s championship-clinching, Game 5 victory.In December 2023, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, appearing as an analyst on ESPN’s "NBA Today" show, Hammon claimed Brunson couldn’t be a lead star on a championship team.“At the end of the day, they don’t have a dude,” Hammon said. “You got to have a dude. You got to have a 1A dude, and they’re missing that, at the end of the day, if we’re just getting down to brass tax.”When asked whether Brunson would qualify, Hammon doubled down.“He too small,” she continued. “If your best player is small, you’re not winning.”After the Knicks rolled past the Spurs in five games, Brunson had the opportunity to respond to the criticism. He took the high road.“I didn't respond to them then and I'm damn sure not going to respond to them now,” he said.Jalen Brunson Game 1 injuryBrunson left the game late in the first quarter with an apparent knee injury, He returned to the floor in the second, although he continued to be slowed by a limp.The injury happened with 2:03 left in the period, when Spurs forward Harrison Barnes fell to the floor and bumped into Brunson's right knee, which was planted on the floor.After a quick trip to the locker room, Brunson was seen back on the bench early in the second quarter. He appeared to be putting a brace on his leg before checking back in.Jalen Brunson statsBrunson averaged 26 points and 6.8 assists during the regular season. He has averaged 27.49 points and 6.2 assists during the postseason.Jalen Brunson collegeBrunson went to Villanova, where he spent three seasons and won two national championships (2016 and 2018). During his senior year (2017-18) he averaged 18.9 points, 4.6 assists and 3.1 rebounds, while shooting 41 percent from 3-point range.Jalen Brunson draftBrunson was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in the second round (33rd overall pick) of the 2018 NBA Draft. Brunson spent his first four seasons with the Mavericks before signing with the Knicks ahead of the 2022-23 season.Jalen Brunson dadRick Brunson is Jalen Brunson's dad and an assistant coach with the Knicks. Rick was hired by the Knicks on June 2, 2022, and Jalen signed with the Knicks 10 days later. Rick played parts of nine seasons in the NBA, including during the 1998-99 season with the Knicks when they last appeared in the NBA Finals.
