As the lyrics from Frank Sinatra’s iconic ode to New York City go, “If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.” That’s just how it is when a player is suiting up for the New York Knicks. Expectations run high. And when somebody is playing well and consistently giving their all on the hardwood, fans celebrate those players like they’re the best in the world.
On the flip side, whenever a player is slacking, New York sports fans are like hungry sharks smelling blood in the water; they never hesitate to attack and make sure players who are falling short of expectations hear about it.
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Taking all these into consideration, former NBA champion Nick Young said what Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson is doing is mighty impressive. With all eyes on him and the stakes at their highest, the 6’2″ guard hasn’t blinked, putting the Knicks a step closer to ending a 53-year title drought.
Brunson wasn’t fazed by the spotlight
With the basketball world’s attention on Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals and the San Antonio Spurs chomping at the bit, relishing the chance to shut Brunson down. However, the former Villanova ace wasn’t fazed by the enormity of the moment and stepped up big time, scoring 13 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter, including numerous clutch shots that secured the win for the blue and orange.
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Swaggy P also took note of Brunson’s aggression, saying that his 31 attempts clearly showed that he wasn’t afraid to take a swing at the Spurs’ feisty defense.
“He got a whole city on his back, man. That’s a lot of pressure to play in New York,” Young shared. “And for somebody to do what he’s doing right now, that takes heart. A lot of heart. A lot of guts.”
“Because at any moment, New York could kill you.”
Putting on a jersey with New York on the front takes more than just physical attributes. It takes intestinal fortitude and a thick skin. When you’re good, everything is peachy. But every bad game, fans and the media alike can’t wait to dig their teeth into a player, trying to test his mettle.
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“A lot of people are not ready for that spotlight. The lights are bright. And you can tell when people come here and then go to other teams, they play better,” Young asserted.
“It’s different playing in these big cities. But he went out there and kept his cool,” he added.
A certified crunch time assassin
Brunson has already proven himself to be a crunchtime performer when he was deemed the Clutch Player of the Year in 2025. However, it seemed like many still needed to be reminded of what he could do to defenses inside the last five minutes of a tight game.
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NFL legend turned media personality Shannon Sharpe, though, stressed that in the NBA, there’s no player he wants to give the ball to when the game hangs in the balance more than Brunson.
“There aren’t many veteran players in the NBA right now who, even if they might be better overall players, I’m not so sure I’d rather have the ball in their hands when it’s all said and done,” Unc surmised.
“Even though some of those players are better overall than him, in the last two or three minutes, I’m not so sure how many other people I want the ball in their hands other than him,” he declared.
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The Knicks still need three wins to capture the Larry O’Brien trophy, which means their fate remains uncertain. However, what is clear is that when the score is close and the Knicks need a savior, they absolutely know where the ball should be.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.