Jalen Brunson addressed the media on Monday, May 18, ahead of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, focusing on preparation, matchups, and experience from last year’s postseason run.
Speaking about the opponent, the Knicks guard described Cleveland’s profile, saying, “Yeah, tough team. Well coached. A lot of guys over there at club experience. It’s going to be a tough battle.”
Brunson broke down the opposing backcourt structure and offensive balance when asked about James Harden’s role, stating, “He does a lot for their team. Obviously he’s able to score the ball. He’s able to pass. He’s able to you know create a lot of offense for them.”
He also pointed to the way Harden influences spacing for Donovan Mitchell, adding, “I think that it kind of a it’s like a pressure release for Donovan as well. You know, obviously Donovan does so much for their team and then you have James in there and you have a whole another person you have to worry about as well.”
The Knicks leader emphasized the overall versatility of the Cavaliers’ offense, noting, “So they have so many different weapons, so many options and ways that they can beat you. So they’re really dynamic.”
On his relationship with Donovan Mitchell, Brunson was direct in his respect for the All-Star guard, saying, “The utmost respect. Gotten to know him since really maybe my first year. We had mutual friends and then getting to know him.”
He continued, “The dude works really hard. Loves the game. I think he approaches it the right way. Got a lot of respect for him.”
Looking at the transition into the series, Brunson said the preparation phase has shifted into urgency, stating, “Not really different, but I just think that now that since we know obviously the time and schedule and everything now, it’s go time now.”
Reflecting on lessons from last year’s conference finals, he highlighted execution in late-game situations, saying, “I think experience always is able to teach you a lot of lessons. I think this time around obviously we know what we have to do.”
He added, “It’s obviously not going to be easy at all, but I think being able to close games and close quarters are going to be really important for us.”
Brunson also referenced past postseason issues with consistency, stating, “We just got to prepared and got to understand what we had to do the entire game for 48 minutes and just be locked in and win or lose have short-term memory.”
When asked about perspective on last year’s conference finals loss, he kept a forward-looking tone, saying, “I think we have, but we can’t be satisfied.”
He also acknowledged the emotional balance of learning from setbacks, stating, “I mean, I’ve thought about it, but like every journey is different. Every year is different. You know, you have to kind of restart and reset.”
Brunson reflected on the franchise’s trajectory since his arrival, saying, “I mean, we want to win whenever we step on the court and so obviously that being my first playoff series with this team was special, but we’re far removed from that.”
He also pointed to the importance of discipline against Cleveland’s attack, stating, “Yeah. Definitely and obviously I think it happened this year as well when we played Atlanta you know we let ours off the gas even in Game 1 we won but also Game 2 obviously we lost.”
Brunson closed by reflecting on representing New York on a major stage, saying, “I don’t take it for granted. Means the world to me. I mean, this place has done wonders for myself, my family. Yeah, I don’t take it for granted with not one bit.”
Across the 2025-26 postseason, Brunson has averaged 27.4 points and 6.1 assists on efficient shooting, anchoring New York’s offense into the conference finals matchup against a Cavaliers team led by Mitchell and Harden.
