For New York Knicks fans, this was the moment they had waited decades to witness. And for Jalen Brunson, it was the reward for years of belief, leadership, and commitment to the franchise. The Knicks completed their remarkable championship run with a 94–90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, securing a 4–1 series triumph and bringing the NBA title back to New York for the first time in 53 years.
Brunson was at the heart of it all. After helping guide the Knicks through a series of comeback victories throughout the playoffs, he capped off the journey by winning Finals MVP and delivering the franchise its long-awaited championship. His decision to leave more than $100 million on the table as a sacrifice ultimately helped build a title-winning team and cemented his place among the franchise’s most beloved figures.
JALEN BRUNSON IS THE 2026 NBA FINALS MVP!
Brunson averaged 32.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 4.6 APG in the NBA Finals, leading the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dsfOMsrjyr
— NBA (@NBA) June 14, 2026
Why Did Jalen Brunson Turn Down $100 Million?
Fans paid thousands of dollars for a chance to watch the New York Knicks end their long championship drought, but no one invested more in the journey than Jalen Brunson. While he ultimately delivered on the court with a title-winning campaign and an NBA Finals MVP performance against the San Antonio Spurs, his most important contribution may have come long before the Finals even began.
Back in 2024, Brunson made the rare decision to leave an estimated $113 million on the table, choosing a contract structure that gave the Knicks greater financial flexibility to strengthen the roster. The move was widely viewed as unprecedented for a player of his stature, but two years later, it has been rewarded in the best possible way—with an NBA championship, Finals MVP honours, and a permanent place in Knicks history.
How Did Jalen Brunson Become NBA Finals MVP?
Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973, scoring 45 points in a 94-90 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The victory secured a 4-1 series triumph for New York, with Brunson once again stepping up as the team’s primary offensive threat in a game where both sides struggled for consistency.
After helping the Knicks recover from another double-digit deficit, Brunson delivered several key baskets down the stretch. He gave New York its first lead of the second half with a four-point play in the third quarter and later broke an 88-88 tie with a floater in the final minutes. He finished the game shooting 14-of-27 from the field and averaged 32.6 points across the Finals, becoming just the second player in NBA history to score 45 points on the road in a championship-clinching game.
The championship capped a remarkable postseason for New York, but Brunson remained at the center of the story. After the final buzzer, he reflected on the achievement, saying, “I’ve got no words. It’s everything I ever dreamed of.” He later added, “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I’m just, like, I’m in awe. I don’t know. Whenever someone counted us out, we find a way to come back and do something about.” Brunson was subsequently named NBA Finals MVP, completing a playoff run that helped end the Knicks’ 53-year title drought.
