There’s a certain kind of silence that settles when a shot just barely rims out — the breath held, the disbelief that follows. Patrick Mahomes knows that moment. Not just on the field, but also from his couch. On Monday night, as the Knicks clawed their way back from a 20-point deficit against the Celtics, the Chiefs QB found himself doing what millions of NBA fans were doing — willing Jalen Brunson’s layup into the net in the final seconds of the game. It missed. And Mahomes, like the rest of us, couldn’t believe it.

Patrick Mahomes isn’t just an NFL superstar. His influence stretches well beyond the gridiron. So much so that when New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson sought out financial strategy inspiration, he turned to the Chiefs QB. Mahomes’ record-setting 10-year, $450 million deal — paired with his diversified investments in other sports — inspired Brunson to take a unique financial route: a pay cut that actually gave him more long-term flexibility and helped the Knicks build a contender.

Just last year, Brunson signed a 4-year, $156.5 million extension. Had he waited until 2025 free agency, he could have commanded over $113 million more. But he didn’t want to stir drama. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Brunson also studied Tom Brady’s team-friendly contracts to model a roster built for championship runs.

Off the field, Mahomes enjoys two things: family time and watching other sports. On Monday, May 5, he tuned into the Knicks vs. Celtics Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. When Brunson missed a cutting layup off the glass with the score tied at 100, heading into overtime, Mahomes tweeted, “Can’t believe that shot didn’t go!”

That miss was surprising, especially from a player who’d carried the Knicks through the first round. New York won 4 out of 6 games, and Brunson led in scoring for four of them. Even on Monday, he tied OG Anunoby with a team-high 29 points.

It was always expected to be a grueling matchup. The Knicks had lost all four regular-season games to the Celtics, though they nearly stole the fourth one in overtime, falling 117-119. Monday’s comeback was the culmination of that growing resilience.

Jalen Brunson leads Knicks to victory in Patrick Mahomes style

In the 2024 NFL season, Mahomes rushed for just two touchdowns. The Chiefs even lost in Week 11 to the Bills – their only regular-season loss apart from a shutout against the Broncos to end the regular season (in which all the starters were rested). But come the rematch with Buffalo for the AFC Championship, Patrick Mahomes rose to the occasion, rushing for two critical touchdowns and shocking/delighting fans.

Brunson mirrored that spirit Monday night. With his team trailing by 20, the Knicks mounted a furious comeback. When Celtics guard Derrick White hit a 3-pointer at the 5:47 mark in the third quarter, Boston led 75-55. But that was the moment the game shifted. Brunson and company tightened the margin to just nine points by the end of the third, trailing 75-84.

By the end of regulation, the score was tied at 100. That’s what had Mahomes buzzing. After all, he’d just lifted his team to a Super Bowl LVIII win in overtime against the 49ers earlier this year. In overtime, Brunson’s teammates came through as he failed to score, with the game finishing 108-105 to the Knicks with a steal by Mikal Bridges. But Brunson truly set the tone with his never-quit leadership.

“Be better, ready to do it from the jump, knowing it’s going to be a game of runs, knowing that they’re capable of doing a lot of great things,” Brunson had said before the game. Turns out, his words weren’t just motivational — they were prophetic.