Matching Greatness: Just How Special Has Jalen Brunson Been in These Playoffs?

In a playoff landscape filled with giants, Jalen Brunson is standing as tall as anyone. And after Game 6 of the Knicks’ first-round series against the Detroit Pistons, he may have authored his signature moment—one that will echo in Madison Square Garden and beyond for years to come.

Facing a do-or-die situation late in the fourth quarter, the Knicks were staring down the barrel of a Game 7. Down 105–112 with just over two minutes remaining, New York seemed on the verge of collapse. But what followed was nothing short of miraculous. Behind their unflinching floor general, the Knicks mounted an 11–1 closing run to snatch the game 116–113, win the series 4–2, and advance to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

At the center of it all: Jalen Brunson, who scored 8 of the Knicks’ final 11 points and finished the night with 40 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists in 42 grueling minutes. His stat line—15-of-33 from the field, 3-of-10 from three, 7-of-8 from the line—only tells part of the story. It was his timing, his control, and most of all, his fearlessness that elevated him from All-Star to postseason legend.

The last three minutes of Game 6 were a masterclass in clutch performance:

• With 2:23 remaining, Brunson drove straight into Dennis Schröder, converted through contact, and added the free throw.

• With 1:38 left, another drive, another finish—again over Schröder.

• With 1:19 to go, Karl-Anthony Towns made a rare playoff hustle play, grabbing a steal and drawing a foul on the break. He hit one of two.

• At the 0:50 mark, after Brunson was locked up by Ausar Thompson for a 24-second violation the possession before, he missed a mid-range jumper—but Mikal Bridges was there to clean it up.

• And then, with five seconds remaining, it happened: Brunson isolated against Thompson again, used a filthy hesitation dribble, stopped on a dime, and sent Thompson flying three feet past him. The crowd held its breath. The shot went up. The buzzer sounded. Splash. Game over. Series over.

If you’re looking for one play to define Brunson’s ascent, this was it.

Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, never one to exaggerate lightly, said of the final shot: “That was one of the most unbelievable step-back threes I’ve ever seen to win a playoff series.” The last time a player ended a series with that kind of killer footwork and mid-air poise? Try Michael Jordan in 1998.

Of course, it’s unfair to compare any player to MJ. But Brunson’s playoff output is forcing people to do exactly that.

Let’s take a look at the raw numbers from this first-round series:

• 31.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 8.2 assists per game

• 43.6% from the field, 33.3% from three, 81.5% from the line

• Played over 40 minutes per game

• In the first four games: 34 PTS / 8 AST, 37 PTS / 7 AST, 30 PTS / 9 AST, 32 PTS / 11 AST

• Game 6: 40 points and the coldest dagger of the postseason

Brunson became the first player since Michael Jordan to score 30+ in each of the first four games of a playoff series. That’s not a name-drop—that’s a statistical fact.

Beyond the numbers, the Knicks’ on/off metrics underscore just how vital Brunson is:

• In the 240 minutes Brunson was on the floor this series, New York posted an offensive rating of 113.5 and a net rating of +2.7

• In the 48 minutes he sat, the offensive rating plummeted to 85.7, with a net rating of –9.3

Translation? Without Brunson, the Knicks are barely a playoff team. With him, they’re a legitimate threat.

That kind of impact puts him in rarified air—especially when you realize this isn’t new. Last year, in 13 playoff games, Brunson averaged 32.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 7.5 assists, with five games over 40 points. From Game 4 of Round 1 to Game 1 of Round 2, he dropped four straight 40-point games, something only Michael Jordan had ever done in postseason history.

So, how does a 6-foot-2 guard with no elite athleticism and a second-round draft pedigree become this guy?

It starts with skill. Brunson is a technician—his footwork, change-of-pace dribble, and use of angles are among the best in the league. His ability to score from all three levels, especially in high-pressure moments, makes him impossible to scheme against. Even when defenses know what’s coming, they can’t stop it. Ask Ausar Thompson.

Then there’s his strength. At just under 190 pounds, Brunson is built like a fire hydrant. He welcomes contact, uses his hips and shoulders to carve space, and finishes through size. His touch around the rim rivals that of guards much taller than him.

But above all else, Brunson’s greatest weapon might be his brain. His ability to read defenses, manipulate coverages, and control tempo is quarterback-level. He’s cool under pressure, rarely sped up, and always seems to make the right decision—even when the stakes are highest.

Knicks fans have seen superstars come and go. They’ve seen high hopes crash into cold reality. But Brunson is different. He’s not just carrying the team—he is the team. With Karl-Anthony Towns emerging as a high-usage frontcourt weapon, and Mikal Bridges offering two-way consistency, it’s still Brunson who orchestrates the engine.

This is why Tom Thibodeau trusts him like few players he’s ever coached. And it’s why New York should feel lucky Dallas let him walk in free agency—a decision that continues to haunt the Mavericks.

Looking ahead, the Knicks’ path doesn’t get easier. In the Eastern Conference Semifinals, they’ll face the defending champion Boston Celtics—a team that swept them in the regular season. But even there, there are reasons for hope. Brunson averaged 26.8 points on 52.8% shooting, 43.3% from deep, and 100% from the line in those four matchups.

Of course, playoff basketball is a different beast. But so is Brunson.

Last year, the Suns swept the Wolves in the regular season—then got swept right back in the playoffs. Upsets happen. Superstars rise. And with Jalen Brunson playing like the playoff assassin he’s proven to be, anything is possible.

He's not just putting up numbers—he’s making history. And the scariest part is, he’s not done yet.

At 6'2" but playing with the weight of a franchise on his back, Brunson has turned into the kind of player you build around. The Knicks have a shot not just because of their depth, not because of their defense—but because when the clock ticks down, they have a guy who can give them what Jordan once gave Chicago: certainty in chaos.