Jalen Brunson

By the four-minute mark of the final quarter on February 3, 2025, the Madison Square Garden faithful had seen enough. In between watching Jalen Brunson take charge offensively, and take charges defensively, requirements were officially met for 19,812 in attendance to begin the often-heard “M-V-P” chants. Confirming the show to only just be beginning, Brunson — No. 1 across the NBA in usage in crunchtime situations — pursues a double screen, inviting a switch that prompts an advantageous guard-on-forward mismatch. Subtle in his lull-like dribble with Tari Eason eager to mirror his steps, Brunson forgoes any potential drive, burying a game-icing pull-up trifecta to send the arena into a party-like frenzy. Competitive, yet often behind as his team endured the shorthanded Houston Rockets’ best shot, Brunson offered his knockout punches in the form of a 17-point eruption in the final period. The recently-crowned two-time All-Star left his status as New York’s king all but reaffirmed, accumulating a 42-point, six-rebound, 10-assist, two-steal masterpiece, accompanied by noteworthy efficiency overall (14-of-27) and from the charity stripe (13-of-14).