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Big Jalen Brunson Announcement Made on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated May 21, 2025 10:43 AM ET

Wednesday is a big day in New York City as the No. 3-seeded Knicks host the No. 4-seeded Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

These two teams faced off last season in the quarterfinals, where the Pacers edged out the Knicks in a seven-game battle. Now, New York is looking for redemption after advancing to the conference finals for the first time in 25 years.

While the Knicks aren't known for their depth, they rely heavily on their core players to carry the load. Head coach Tom Thibodeau’s demanding style has worked thus far—thanks in large part to star point guard Jalen Brunson.

Brunson has emerged as one of the most efficient postseason scorers over the last three years. Beyond just putting up points, he delivers in the game’s biggest moments—energizing a city that's longed for meaningful basketball in the playoffs.

Ahead of the action, Brunson was been revealed as the newest cover athlete of "SLAM" Magazine—just in time for Game 1 at Madison Square Garden..

"NEW YORK CITY. TALK TO ME. 10 AM EST," SLAM posted on Wednesday.

NEW YORK CITY. TALK TO ME. 10 AM EST. pic.twitter.com/ghtMNO6zlv
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) May 21, 2025

Over 61 career playoff games, Jalen Brunson is averaging 24.9 points, 5.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds.

However, through the first two rounds of this year’s postseason—where the Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons in six games and then knocked off the Boston Celtics in six—he's elevated his play, averaging 28.8 points and 7.6 assists. Brunson has scored 30 or more points in six of the Knicks’ 12 playoff games so far.

On the other side, the Pacers have been a pleasant surprise in their own right. They upset the Milwaukee Bucks in five games, then followed it up by eliminating the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers—who posted 64 regular season wins—in just five games as well.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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