Jalen Brunson is close enough to the Larry O’Brien Trophy to see it, but he does not seem ready to share space with it until the Knicks actually win it.
That might sound extreme, but it fits the way Brunson has carried New York through this postseason.
The Knicks are three wins from their first championship since 1973, and their captain is treating the trophy like something that must be earned before it can be acknowledged.
Jalen Brunson keeps Larry O’Brien focus locked away
Brunson reportedly avoided being around the Larry O’Brien Trophy during pre-Finals promo work, even as the NBA created content with Knicks and Spurs players around the championship prize.
Asked about that decision, he gave away nothing.
“No comment,” he said twice. Taylor then said, “I think Kobe Bryant might appreciate that mentality of just that ultimate focus. He might also appreciate taking 30 shots last night.”
The Kobe link makes sense. Brunson is the first men’s basketball player signed to the Kobe Bryant brand, and his Game 1 approach carried that same stubborn edge.
He shot only 12-for-31, but still scored 30 points in New York’s 105-95 win over San Antonio. The fourth quarter was the difference, with Brunson scoring 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting as the Knicks stole home-court advantage.
That followed a playoff run already built on clutch responses. He won the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference Finals MVP after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists in a sweep of Cleveland.
Jalen Brunson joins a long line of trophy superstitions
Brunson’s trophy stance is unusual for NBA promo duties, but it is not unusual across sports.
Kobe famously refused to acknowledge the Western Conference trophy in 2010 because the Lakers had not finished the job. In hockey, captains often avoid touching the Prince of Wales Trophy or Clarence S. Campbell Bowl before chasing the Stanley Cup.
Soccer has its own version. Cristiano Ronaldo has said he avoids touching trophies before finals because it brings bad luck.
Some of it is superstition, but most of it is mental discipline. Touching the trophy too early can feel like celebrating the destination before doing the work.
That is why Brunson’s silence fits. The Larry O’Brien Trophy is in the building, but for him, it is not part of the story until the Knicks win three more games.
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