One year ago, WWE unknowingly predicted the future. An Eastern Conference Finals face-off between Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton; that’s pure action that awaits the whistle. On one hand, Haliburton’s Pacers dethroned Cleveland, the No. 1 seed in the East. On the other hand, the defending champions, the Celtics, lost 2-4 to the New York Knicks. After all the noise around Hali, JB is the one shaking things up and putting the league on notice.

Maybe his exit from the Dallas Mavericks in 2022 was a siren, Mark Cuban failed to hear. But sometimes, some players are like the bullets you shoot that never return. And so, as the Knicks reach the Conference Finals after 25+ years, New York’s very own Carmelo Anthony shared his true feelings about Jalen Brunson.

“He’s reached that Trae Young or Isaiah Thomas status with that win last night – like he’s officially on par with those guys. He’ll probably perform like those guys in the conference finals, too – that’s who the Knicks got right now.”

Now, you might be wondering, why and how are Trae Young and Isaiah Thomas involved in a conversation strictly about the Knicks? Well, simply put, Trae has earned the status of an Atlanta Hawks legend the day he pushed his team into the Conference Finals in 2021. And, Isaiah Thomas? Well, he is one of the legends of the sport and not just confined to the Detroit Pistons.

Jalen Brunson has rocked the NBA to its core in just two years as a Knickerbocker, turning heads and rewriting expectations. And that’s not all, because he is rekindling the hope for a championship that New York hasn’t won since 1973.

Jalen Brunson & Co. steal a blowout win against Boston in Game 6

Let’s be clear about one thing: the New York Knicks overpowered the Boston Celtics most unexpectedly. Now, why “unexpectedly?” Well, the Cs were the defending champions with an untouched championship-winning starting five. One of the strongest teams in the current scenario, and the Knicks, with their record of blunders in the past, seemed like a weaker side. However, the likes of Spike Lee, Timothée Chalamet, and Stephen A. Smith, not giving up, showed the true emotions of every Knicks fan.

Meanwhile, conquering Boston in a 38-point gap to win the second-round series, Jalen Brunson and Co. rose to the occasion. Both JB and Anunoby chipped in 23 points, while KAT had 21 points and 12 rebounds. On the other hand, Mikal Bridges added 22 points, and Josh Hart added 10.

In the 2025 NBA postseason, Jalen Brunson has been cooking with 29.4 points per game. During this series, he is still bringing the heat with 26.8. He went off for 39 in Game 4, leaving fans in awe. However, Game 5 told a different story. He cooled off with just 22 as New York took the loss. Redemption was the need for the moment, and he did so in Game 6, thus pushing his team into the Conference Finals.

Now, the only hurdle between the NBA Finals and a ticket to Cancun is the Indiana Pacers.  JB has simply flipped the script on the Knicks’ playoff dreams. From silencing Boston to lighting up the postseason, he is not just playing ball, he is building a legacy. The city feels it, and the fans believe it. A legend is in the making, and Jalen Brunson is his name.