EMIRATES NBA CUP

December 12, 2025

Jalen Brunson

New York Knicks

Semifinal Practice Day

Q. This being the first time that you guys have been here to Vegas for this, you may not know the answer, but can it help provide something going down the road to have experienced this kind of thing as a team facing a team like Orlando that you've already played a bunch of times, tough team? Can this thing help you as you go forward?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, definitely. I think that just the atmosphere and what this is capable of being for us can be a huge thing for us. Excited for this opportunity, for sure.

Q. The Magic pride themselves on physicality, and the three matchups with you guys have been physical. What stands out about that and how do you combat that?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, they are really physical. That's what Coach [Mosley] prides himself on. The way that they have been able to do it makes them very successful.

There's a lot of ways you combat it. Obviously with physicality. But I would move it, with space and transition, getting stops and running. I think no matter what, they are going to play their solid basketball. We have to play ours and do it to the best of our abilities.

Q. If you can remember your initial thoughts when they introduced the Cup, and now that you've been part of it, how you feel about it now?

JALEN BRUNSON: I don't know my initial thoughts, but I knew that it was going to be different, something that we're not used to from being in the league. And, I mean, it's cool. It's something different. It's something that you can win. It's something that benefits a lot of people other than yourself.

Like I said, it's just another opportunity to win something, and so got to go out there and compete.

Q. Because you're the team from New York, is it an advantage that you’re used to be under the spotlight? Do you feel like you can take advantage of that?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I feel like, obviously, being in New York, there's obviously a lot of media attention. I think for us, no matter what the situation is or where we're playing or who we're playing, circumstances or whatever, this shouldn't affect us at all. It shouldn't affect our preparation, how we are as a team, how we perform. We've got each other's backs no matter what, and so regardless of all the attention and stuff like that, no, we still have to go out there and do our jobs and compete.

Q. I know the preparation or the mentality might not change, but do elimination games like this bring out the best in you or bring out anything else new?

JALEN BRUNSON: I feel like that obviously it's like win-or-go-home.

So you want to put your best foot forward, and you want to go out there and try to win. It's not really a series. You can't ease into Game 1 and see how things are going to be. You've got to go out there and just try to win and move on.

You can say that, but I think no matter what, you're trying to put your best foot forward.

Q. From a player's perspective, what's your take on Las Vegas and the possibility that this town might have an NBA team down the road sometime?

JALEN BRUNSON: I think Vegas is a great, great city. Obviously, a lot of excitement and a lot of things to do here.

So if it happens, it happens. But pretty sure we're only out here one time a year, anyway.

Q. I love your hat.

JALEN BRUNSON: Thank you.

Q. What gives you confidence before a game?

JALEN BRUNSON: Confidence before a game? My confidence, the way I work out, the way I put my best foot forward preparing for games, my routine and everything, that gives me my confidence. I always say my confidence comes from my work ethic and how I prepare.

So as long as that doesn't change, that doesn't waver, I just know no matter what, I'm putting my best foot forward and not being afraid to fail.

Q. You faced the Magic just a few days ago. How do you manage the fact that you have to face that team again but in a different context?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I think no matter what, the context is the circumstances. They are going to be who they are, and they are going to come out here and compete.

I think for us, we have to be ready to do what we've got to do and combat that. Obviously, they are a very physical team, and they do what they do well. So we have to do what we do well and go from there.

Q. It seems like in the three years, the Cup has gone from the thing that had some money attached to it and the different courts to now, I mean, clearly, it matters to players. You see it. How have your personal feelings evolved, if at all, about the Cup since you heard about it until now?

JALEN BRUNSON: For us, you're still going out there and competing. It's part of your regular-season games. It's part of your journey as a team to go out there and be better than you were the night before.

It's a journey. And regardless of who we are playing, where we are playing, what the circumstances are, Cup games or not, it's an opportunity for our team to go out there and compete. I think we embrace those challenges.