Jalen Brunson's Game 6 heroics further his case as Knicks playoff legend  

Without Brunson's play, especially late in the game after his co-star Karl-Anthony Towns fouled out, many would be labeling a Game 6 loss with a chance to close the series as a choke job of epic proportions. 

But instead, nothing matters other than New York is moving on as Brunson continues to etch his name as one of the most clutch performers in Knicks history.  

Brunson averaged 31.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 8.2 assists in the first round. Win or lose, Brunson always delivers. Brunson surpassed 30 points in every game but one against the Pistons. 

Brunson now has seven 40-point playoff games as a Knick. Five of those came last postseason when he became the first NBA player to record five 40-point games in the same postseason since LeBron James had eight in 2018.  

Brunson is also showing his remarkable 2024 postseason was no fluke. Last year, Brunson averaged 32.4 points, 3.3 boards and 7.5 assists in 13 games as the Knicks beat Philadelphia before eventually falling to Indiana in the second round.   

In his debut postseason with the Knicks in 2023, Brunson registered a still solid 27.8 points per game. 

As New York prepares for a second-round date with the rival and reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics, who made quick work of the Orlando Magic, it's clear the Knicks will only go as far as Brunson, their superhero, takes them. 

And if the Knicks do reach the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since the turn of the century, Brunson will become one of the most beloved New York stars ever.