Behind, “The Captain,” himself in Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Championship and cemented themselves in the history books as one of the best teams in the league’s storied history. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, 4-1, in what was a stunning series.
Brunson was unanimously named NBA Finals MVP averaging 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 42.1 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three. But it was his impressive fourth quarter performances time and time again that had the Spurs back on their heels and helped New York overcome their massive deficits.
According to Associated Press writer Josh Dubow, Brunson joined the history books with his fourth quarter scoring. In the five-game series, Brunson scored 42.7 percent of the New York Knicks’ total fourth quarter points, which is the highest share for any player in the NBA Finals since Dirk Nowitzki scored 43.7 percent of the Dallas Mavericks’ fourth quarter points back in 2011.
Jalen Brunson scored 42.7% of Knicks points in 4th quarter in NBA Finals. That’s highest share for any player in Finals since Dirk Nowitzki had 43.7% for Mavs in 2011
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) June 15, 2026
Brunson scored 56 total points in fourth quarters during the NBA Finals, averaging out to 11.2 points per fourth quarter. That’s the most points scored in fourth quarters of a series that went five or fewer games in the play-by-play era.
The Knicks star saved his best performance for last, scoring 15 of his series-high 45 points in the fourth quarter of Game 5 to complete New York’s comeback.
The NBA Championship for New York ended a 53-year championship drought for the franchise, who last won in 1973 and made appearances in 1994 as well as 1999.
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