Jalen Brunson earns Finals MVP as Knicks claim championship
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 14, 2026, 11:40 AM
Last updated Jun 14, 2026
Jalen Brunson has been named the NBA Finals MVP after leading the New York Knicks to their first championship since 1973. Brunson averaged 27.4 points per game during the playoffs and increased his scoring to 32.6 points in the Finals, concluding with a record-setting 45 points in Game 5. His strong performance included 15 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Knicks secure a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The win has sparked a debate regarding the validity of Becky Hammon's earlier critiques about smaller guards leading championship teams. Brunson's success challenges those views directly, particularly given Hammon's comments prior to the Finals.
- •Brunson named Finals MVP unanimously after Knicks' championship win.
- •He averaged 32.6 points per game in the Finals.
- •Brunson set a Knicks Finals record with 45 points in Game 5.
- •Knicks defeated Spurs 94-90 in the final game of the series.
- •Erica Brunson questioned Becky Hammon's earlier critique regarding small guards.
- 11:40 AMYahoo Sports — Jalen Brunson’s sister Erica calls out Becky Hammon with two-word question after Finals MVP verdict
"Erica Brunson did not need a long post to reignite the Becky Hammon debate after Jalen Brunson finished the job she once said he could not finish. The Knicks guard is now a champion, a Finals MVP, and the cleanest answer to every lingering question about whether he could lead a title team as the top option.
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