Jalen Brunson 'So Honored' to Rep New York Knicks Jersey, 'Wouldn't Trade That Feeling for Anything'

Star guard Jalen Brunson takes great pride in representing the New York Knicks as he and his team are two wins away from an NBA title.

Ahead of Game 3 in the 2026 Finals, Brunson told reporters Sunday he's "so honored to be able to put New York across my chest," and he "wouldn't trade that feeling for anything in the world."

Brunson is a New Jersey native whose father, Rick, played for the Knicks for three seasons. That period overlapped with what had been New York's last Finals appearance in 1999.

There are a lot of ways Brunson's NBA career could've unfolded. As one example, he would've never signed with the Knicks in the first place if the Dallas Mavericks hadn't so badly misjudged his value before he became a free agent in 2022.

But playing in Madison Square Garden is clearly something the three-time All-Star relished for a long time, and that sets him apart from a lot of his peers.

The Knicks pursued plenty of marquee names in free agency to no avail through the years. Kevin Durant summed it up well in 2019 when he said that "the cool thing right now is not the Knicks."

Brunson felt differently in 2022. He welcomed the challenge of playing for the franchise, and his decision has paid off in spades. The 29-year-old is thriving in terms of individual and team success.

Thanks to his efforts, the Knicks are the "cool thing" once again.