Jalen Brunson gives props to HC Tom Thibodeau's controversial methods for late-game heroics as Knicks gain crucial 2-1 lead
A day after winning Clutch Player of the Year, Jalen Brunson came through in crunch time for the New York Knicks to seal a hard-fought Game 3 win over the Detroit Pistons. Despite the fierce fightback spirit of the young Pistons team, Brunson outlasted the opposition with his pressure-packed baskets, putting the Knicks up 2-1 in the series.
In the media availability following the Knicks' 118-116 victory, Fred Katz of The Athletic brought up how the two-time All-Star looked like he had an extra gear when everyone else "looked gassed." Brunson then credited his coach, Tom Thibodeau, for helping develop his stamina:
"Just happy Thibs played me all those minutes in the regular season," Brunson said with a straight face. "Got me in shape for the playoffs."
Brunson's response drew laughter from the reporters in attendance, as well as from his teammate Karl-Anthony Towns, who was sitting right beside him. The Knicks guard, however, did not budge from his stoic expression.
In the scintillating Game 3 win, Brunson put up 30 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. His biggest baskets came when the Knicks needed him most.
Even as Detroit cut the lead to three with less than five minutes left, Brunson whipped out his midrange brilliance and measured drives to keep the Pistons at bay. In the end, the Clutch Player of the Year allowed the Knicks to build a cushion large enough to hold off Detroit's attempt at its first home playoff win in 17 years.
Tom Thibodeau addresses Detroit crowd's 'f**k you' chants at Jalen Brunson
As if holding off a tenacious young team weren't difficult enough, Brunson also had to contend with raucous jeering from the Detroit crowd at Little Caesars Arena. The chants of "F*** you, Brunson" were audible enough to resonate on the live TNT broadcast.
Thibodeau, however, brushed off the chants by saying that Brunson viewed them differently:
"To Jalen, those are cheers," Thibodeau said in the post-game interview.
Brunson will have to brace himself for even more "cheers" as the Pistons, along with their home crowd, look to bounce back in Game 4.