Knicks' Jalen Brunson Talks 2023's Season-Ending Turnover, Says It Was Fuel for 2024

Jalen Brunson has internal motivation heading into the New York Knicks' first-round matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers.

The star point guard had a costly turnover in Game 6 of last year's conference semifinal matchup against the Miami Heat. The turnover came in the final 20 seconds of the game, and the Heat won 96-92.

Per ESPN's Tim Bontemps, that turnover was on Brunson's mind all offseason.

"We are in a position where we could have forced the Game 7, and I made a terrible decision and I had to live with that throughout the whole summer," Brunson said. "When I'm working out, I'm focusing on whatever I'm doing at that time, but that moment creeps back in your mind. You see it all over social media ... it's impossible not to see things like that."

But Brunson is now using the mistake as fuel as he looks to lead the Knicks on a deep playoff run. He's been outstanding this year, putting up 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game and making a case to be in the MVP conversation.

That turnover kept the Knicks from possibly sending last year's matchup to a Game 7, but if Brunson can lead New York to success this postseason, it will be an afterthought.

Brunson and the Knicks begin their first-round series against the 76ers on Saturday at 6 p.m. ET in Madison Square Garden.