Mike Brown Explains What Makes Jalen Brunson So Special
When Mike Brown was hired as the head coach of the New York Knicks, he knew that he had a special talent waiting for him at Madison Square Garden, someone whom he had watched from afar with amazement for many years.
That would be Jalen Brunson, the Knicks' All-Star point guard and heart and soul of the franchise, who is two wins away from helping lead his team to its first NBA Championship since 1973 against the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals
For Brown, who is in his first year coaching the Knicks but has been coaching in the NBA since 1997, he always knew that Brunson was a special player.
He's been a problem in this league for a long time."
Mike Brown Recalls Seeing Jalen Brunson Play for the 1st Time
Speaking to reporters ahead of Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Brown recalled the first time he saw Brunson play, when he was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, and Brunson was a member of the Dallas Mavericks.
"I first took notice of him when I was a defensive coordinator in Golden State, and we had to play against Dallas. And I remember the first couple of times we played against them, we put a guard on him," Brown recalled.
"And I was amazed because when you look at him, you're like, 'OK, he's not the biggest guy, he's not the most athletic guy, he's not the quickest guy. OK, you could put a guy 6'4" or 6'5" on him, you'll be okay.' No. We put guys 6'6" or 6'7" on him, and he got to a spot methodically. He put his back shoulder in them, and he still scored.
Related: Brian Windhorst Praises 'Powerhouse' New York Knicks
"So we played him in the playoffs, and Luke (Doncic) is great, he's an all-time great. He's going to go down as a top-10 player to ever play the game, maybe top five, I don't know.
"But as a defensive coordinator, this is just me, but going into that series, my concern wasn't Luka. My concern was Jalen, and we put Draymond Green on Jalen. That's how concerned we were, because we needed a bigger, stronger, tougher guy to try to do it or to try to slow him down at that time.
"His game has evolved, like he didn't shoot as many 3-pointers, he didn't play as much pick and roll because the ball was in Luka's hands.
"Now, it's different. If you put a bigger guy on him like that, a power forward, he's in the ball screen, he's out in transition, he can score from all three levels. And he does it with a patience that you embrace as a coach because it's not hurried and frantic all the time. It seems like he's always in control, which helps you as a coach be in control, which helps his teammates be in control.
"He's been a problem in this league for a long time."
More NBA:
- Coach Scolds Victor Wembanyama After Game 2
- Mike Brown Explains Why San Antonio Spurs Are So Dangerous
- Brian Windhorst Reveals Price For Cavs To Land Giannis Antetokounmpo
Jalen Brunson Took Less Money to Help New York Win
Not only is Brunson an amazing player when he steps onto the court, but he's an incredible person who always puts his team first.
Case in point: the contract extension he signed in New York.
In July 2024, Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract with the Knicks. Had he waited a year to sign his contract, he could have gotten five years and $269.5 million contract.
The reason he did that? To help his team win.
By taking less money, the Knicks were able to fit Mikal Bridges under the salary cap's second apron after getting him in a trade from the Brooklyn Nets. Bridges has been an integral part of this Knicks team as they make a run for the NBA Championship, but it wouldn't have been possible to get him without Brunson's sacrifice.
With NBA players' careers often cut short by injuries, they are advised by their agents to take as much money as they can. But not Brunson. For him, it was all about winning, and if that meant taking less money to surround himself with better players, then that's a sacrifice he was willing to make.
That's what a true team captain does.
Brunson is the Knicks' leader on and off the court. He's a truly special talent, and with two more wins by this incredible New York basketball team, all of the sacrifices that Brunson has made will be worth it when he holds up the NBA Championship for the first time in his career.
Not bad for a second-round pick, right?
Related: Knicks' Took Bizarre, Decades-Long Journey Back to Finals
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 2:06 PM.