Jalen Brunson issues strong warning to former Knicks teammate

Jalen Brunson might just be the biggest star in the NBA right now given that he is the reigning Finals MVP and that the New York Knicks are the defending NBA champions. Be that as it may, even a bond immortalized by a title is not enough for him to soften up against his competition next season.

One Knick who exited the team this summer is Mitchell Robinson, who ended up signing a three-year, $47.4 million contract to play for the Boston Celtics, one of New York's biggest rivals in the East. Robinson spent four seasons playing with the All-Star guard in the Big Apple, so their close relationship is only natural.

Jalen Brunson sends warning to Mitchell Robinson

That being said, Brunson recently sent a warning to Robinson that he will not hold back when the Knicks face the Celtics in the upcoming campaign.

“Obviously playing for a rival and I know people want every team to hate each other. But there are some people you really care for and that’s my guy. I’m happy for him. And now, whenever we play him — four times a year — he’s not my friend that day," Brunson said.

Of course, there is no love lost between Brunson and Robinson. The former acknowledged that the latter is a big loss to the Knicks, and that is certainly true. Despite playing with an injured hand in the Finals, Robinson guarded Victor Wembanyama well when he was deployed on the floor against the Spurs on the biggest stage.

Still, the competition in the Eastern Conference will only be tighter from here on out. Naturally, New York is reckoned as the favorite to come out of the East and make it back to the Finals. But a team like Boston, now bolstered by the addition of Robinson, definitely has the ability to ruin its dreams of a repeat. As such, Brunson's candid reminder is simply a reflection of the challenges awaiting them in their title defense.