EMIRATES NBA CUP

December 16, 2025

Jalen Brunson

New York Knicks

Championship Postgame

New York Knicks 124, San Antonio Spurs 113

Q. What was it like for you to see Tyler have this moment on this stage?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, played big-time. Very happy for him. May be a surprise to a bunch of people, but none of you guys see how hard this kid works. Just very happy for him in the way he played tonight. Helped us, for sure. So we needed him.

Just, yeah, he works so hard. I'm very happy for him, man. This is big-time for him.

Q. I know the Cup is new. Did you envision what the feeling would be winning something like that? Did it match or exceed it?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, I mean, I'm very excited. It's a goal of ours that we get to check off. It's an important steppingstone for us. We can still learn from this game and get better, as well.

I'm very thankful for the opportunity presented to ourselves. Yeah, through the ups and downs of the game, being down 10, being up 10, we found a way to win.

Q. You've been in a lot of playoff series. This isn't quite like the playoffs. One-and-done simulates it. Unlikely heroes step up in those situations. Given what happened tonight, can this be a confidence builder for Tyler, Mitch, Jordan? Can that be something that aids you down the line?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. A game like this, an environment like this, you don't really see around the NBA too often. We got to take advantage of the experience that we got here. I mean, those guys will.

But I think most importantly from all of us is the way we stuck together through, like I said, being down 10 in the third and them kind of controlling the game throughout the game. Us just finding a way. Going on the run in the fourth with the help of our bench, it was big-time.

The way they played, like I said, there's a reason I said that first before I said anything else because without them we don't win this game.

Q. I think you said on the court something like, We're going to find a way to win. How much does that represent this team's identity through adversity?

JALEN BRUNSON: We're going to find a way. We're going to fight. We're not going to quit. We're going to go out there and do what we got to do.

When we fail in those moments, we tip our hats, we respect the other team and we move forward. But we're not going to quit. We're not going to lay down. Like I said, we're going to find a way.

The game may be ugly. How we're going to impact the game? Our bench did that tonight. They impacted the game for us.

Q. You won MVP, but in your speech you praised your teammates. How important is it for you to have that type of support as a leader?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, like I said, without them I don't hold that trophy, we don't hold the trophy as a team. We're in the complete other side of this.

I had to give them their props and a shout-out. It's important for me to make sure that the guys who come out and compete and play well and help us win, they're acknowledged, too, especially if it's not maybe on the stat sheet.

I think Tyler had a big play where he got the charge, but they overturned it. Turned into a blocking foul. Him with that physicality kind of sparked us. It's just a big-time play for him, big-time game for him. It was very important for me to say something.

Q. What does it say to you as a player when in a somewhat big game your coaches, you, Jordan and Kolek hadn't played a ton together, especially with Mitch and Kat, the ability and willingness to try stuff? What can that do for a player and for a team?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, one, it shows the confidence and trust Mike has in us to figure it out. He's unafraid to fail either. I think having that mindset of not being afraid to fail is good for us because it allows us to continue to fight. It allows us to go out there and not worry about the result. We may play great defense on a possession, hit a tough shot. We may play a great game all game and lose on the final buzzer.

We're not afraid of failure. I think that's a big-time thing about us. We got to continue to have that mindset and thought process in whatever we do, continue to build off that.

Q. You talked about the confidence for someone like Tyler. For you as a team to be the ones celebrating wearing the shirts and hats, is this something that can help you down the road, get to the next goals you have?

JALEN BRUNSON: Yeah, definitely. In a game like this where basically it's win or go home, you have guys step up. You have guys that play really well. You have guys that pick up the slack for personally me who wasn't shooting the ball well, who had a terrible turnover in the second half.

When those guys come in and do that, that gives us even more confidence. That excites me more than anything. The guys that come in and do that, it gives us an opportunity to win. It's a great feeling.

Q. Coach at the end said it felt like New York. During this whole experience, did any of it feel reminiscent to the culture set out in MSG?

JALEN BRUNSON: Knicks fans travel. They're everywhere. It's a very, very unique fan base who supports you through thick and thin, but also tells you the real. They're not afraid to tell you about it.

I think with me, as long as I'm obviously genuine and hold myself accountable to when I'm not doing my thing, not playing well, praising others when I do. That's how I go about my business when it comes to this.

It was reminiscent. But there's no place like New York. You felt the fans, but it's no Garden.

Q. What does this championship mean to the city of New York, if they're going to have a parade?

JALEN BRUNSON: I don't think we're having a parade, one (smiling).

To the city of New York? I think it's good that we won this. I think the way we won it is special, as well. I mean, our fans are always going to support us through thick and thin.

I think for me, I always focus on staying levelheaded through the positives, through the negatives. You can't get too high, can't get too low.

This is great. We're going to enjoy this. But once we leave tomorrow, we're moving on.