Mike Breen Makes Stunning Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Comparison While Praising Jalen Brunson

Michael Jordan, Jalen Brunson, and Kobe Bryant (Photo by Imagn Images)

Mike Breen Makes Stunning Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant Comparison While Praising Jalen Brunson

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports
By Debmallya Chakraborty | Last updated Jun 1, 2026 10:31 AM ET

The New York Knicks are in seventh heaven at the moment. Having reached the NBA finals for the first time in nearly three decades, the team should be indebted to Jalen Brunson. It was his incredible surge that helped the Knicks complete a 4-0 clean sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Now, as the team waits for their ultimate test against the San Antonio Spurs, Mike Breen compared Brunson’s mental toughness with that of Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

Speaking with ‘New York Post’ columnist Steve Serby, Breen clarified what made the 29-year-old different from everyone in the league. Breen opined, “He has an iron will. He’s not tall, he’s not fast, he’s not overly athletic. But he’s one of the mentally strongest players I’ve ever been around. They talk about Michael Jordan, they talk about Kobe Bryant … in terms of mental toughness, I’d put him up there with anybody.”

Mike Breen says Jalen Brunson’s mental toughness is on par with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant:

“He has an iron will. He’s not tall, he’s not fast, he’s not overly athletic. But he’s one of the mentally strongest players I’ve ever been around. They talk about Michael Jordan,… pic.twitter.com/GajIh4g5i7
— NBA Base (@TheNBABase) June 1, 2026

Throughout the finals, the 3-time NBA All-Star has been phenomenal in his approach. Back in Game 3, it was Brunson’s performance that powered the Knicks to a 3-0 series lead. Speaking about the 2025 NBA Cup champion, Breen noted that even if Brunson does not win the championship, he will be on par with the likes of Patrick Ewing and Walt Frazier.

Meanwhile, giving another example of the iron will, the 29-year-old star recently gave up $113 million, which led to the Knicks’ NBA Finals run.

How Did Jalen Brunson’s $113 Million Sacrifice Help The New York Knicks?

The road to the NBA playoffs was paved by Brunson a long time back. July 2024 to be exact. In a surprising turn of events, the 6-foot-2 star agreed to sign a $156.5 million contract extension with the Knicks for four years. This was quite a shocker as Brunson was eligible for a much larger payday.

Jalen Brunson (Image Credits: Imagn)

According to calculations, if the 29-year-old star had waited until the 2025 summer, he would have been eligible for a five-year, $269.1 million contract upgrade. But the New Jersey native gave up $113 million. So that the team could use the money to strengthen the squad for the future.

Surely, the move proved to be a masterstroke. It helped the Knicks bring in Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, and retain OG Anunoby. Now, as things look rosy, fans will be eager to see what’s next.

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

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