Jalen Brunson shares warning for Knicks about trying to repeat as NBA champions

Star guard Jalen Brunson and other members of the New York Knicks are on top of the basketball world while spending the summer celebrating their NBA Finals victory over the San Antonio Spurs.

However, Brunson acknowledged, while speaking at the WSJ Sports: The Next Sports Economy event in New York City on Thursday, that defending the crown will be harder for the Knicks than claiming it was this past spring. 

Jalen Brunson: Trying to repeat as NBA champs will be "an even bigger challenge"

"It will be different, for sure," Brunson said about the Knicks' title defense, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. "Obviously, for the first eight years, I went through disappointment, obviously losing at the end of the season. And now winning, I think it’s an even bigger challenge. Now, it’s a target on your back. Now, players and teams have changed. They’ve gotten better. So, how are we going to evolve as a team? How are we going to figure out what’s the next step for us? And that’s going to be a really big, important question coming in the training camp: How are we going to be better? How are we going to literally look at the trophy, know that was last year, and then forget about it? And so, it’s going to be a very interesting training camp to see where our minds are at. But I’m excited for the challenge." 

Brunson and the Knicks have already encountered some difficulties this summer. He underwent a minor procedure to repair a tendon issue in his left wrist/hand after the Finals, and his recovery timetable is reportedly "six to eight weeks." Meanwhile, fan-favorite and backup center Mitchell Robinson signed with the rival Boston Celtics in free agency. The Knicks have since replaced Robinson with veteran Andre Drummond.

"First and foremost, I love Mitch," Brunson said. "I’m happy for Mitch. I will always love Mitch except those four times we play him. But that’s my brother. I’m super excited for him. It’s a great opportunity for him. And, yeah, I’m happy … except for those four times."

When Jalen Brunson knew Knicks could win the 2026 NBA Finals

The Knicks somewhat controversially parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau after he took the team to the Eastern Conference Finals last year. Under current head coach Mike Brown, the Knicks erased a 22-point fourth-quarter deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of this year's conference finals.

"I think once we got to the conference finals — obviously we lost there a season ago — just getting back there, back to where we were, we understand what we did last time and how can we change that," Brunson added during the conversation. "I think once we started to continue to win there, [I knew] we [would] actually have a chance. But it was I think the best part about it: We just kept chipping away the entire season and just kept chipping away, chipping away. You just never knew when things were going to break through. And having that mindset, then once they actually did, it was kind of a sigh of relief." 

In the end, the Knicks won 15 of their final 16 games to claim the franchise's first NBA title in 53 years.