Times have really changed, eh? When the Golden State Warriors were last in the conference finals, they were dispatching Luka Doncic’s Dallas Mavericks out of the playoffs. The Dubs went on to win the NBA championship, the fourth of the Splash Bros era.
Meanwhile, a lot of GSW fans were amazed at how Golden State’s defensive effort had the Mavericks’ top stars in a headlock, despite them coming into the series heralded as scoring machines. Doncic was put directly into Alcatraz by Andrew Wiggins, while his tag team partner Jalen Brunson ever could get hot in the series. My impression of Brunson at the time? A diminutive chucker who could get some sneaky buckets but had no chance against the length and grit of the Golden Empire.
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When the Warriors eliminated the Mavericks in the fifth game of the series, Brunson had a meek ending of 10 points on 3-of-10 shooting from the field in 30 minutes.
Since then, both he and Doncic’s profiles have dramatically lifted. Doncic led his team to the NBA Finals last year before being traded to the Lakers, while Brunson left the Mavs in free agency to make the Knicks a playoff factor in the East.
Brunson’s powerful presence showed out in the Knicks big win in an elimination game against the Pacers yesterday.
Per ESPN: “As Brunson scored the game’s first three baskets and had 14 first-quarter points, New York held down the rival Pacers for a wire-to-wire victory 111-94 to force Game 6 in Indianapolis on Saturday night. Brunson was dominant from the jump, hitting six of his first seven shot attempts in the opening period en route to a game-high 32 points.”
And per CBS Sports: “Brunson also made some individual history with his 10th game of 30 points and five assists this postseason alone. Only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, LeBron James and Michael Jordan have done that during a single playoff run.”
Sometimes a change of scenery is all somebody needs to be their best selves, and Brunson’s ascension is proof of that. Whether he can make it to the Finals remains to be seen, but he’s certainly come along way since the Warriors ended his Mavericks career.
