A Game of Kings

The king of new york - bronson

It could have been different. New York City is a capital of culture; it is the center of the world. You would think the team would look the same: famous, selfish stars who love the stage and the cameras. But even though the prestigious club won the championship this year, and all the celebrities came to watch, and the tickets cost crazy amounts, the team did not embody the elitist spirit of New York City.

Against all odds.It’s easy to attach a narrative to reality; we love doing that. But the Knicks’ captain practically begs for one. Jalen Brunson is a special case. The son of a former Knicks player, Rick Brunson, you would think his path was laid out for him. But Jalen wasn’t the safe bet he appears to be now. Despite an incredible college career where he won two championships and was named National Player of the Year, Jalen slipped to the 33rd pick in the 2018 draft. This is a late, unheralded pick. And although he showed proven ability beyond just potential, all thirty teams hesitated and passed on him. The truth is that Jalen Brunson does not fit the mold of an NBA player. He is undersized at 6’2” more than four inches below the league average. He is not athletic, agile, or fast compared to his peers. By every physical metric, he is far below the average and expectations. But Jalen didn’t read the script written for him, and he kept believing.

He spent the beginning of his career in Dallas, alongside the young star Luka Dončić. More accurately, behind Luka, whose role is similar to Brunson’s and whose place on the team was already established. In the 2022 playoffs, a door opened for Jalen, and that was all he needed. Luka got injured, so Brunson got not only his minutes but also the reins. Jalen elevated himself in the series: in the second game, he scored 41 points without a single turnover, leading the team to a critical victory. In this series, Jalen declared that he was ready to lead a team and that no stage was too big for him. This time the league heeded his words, and the next season he played in New York, where he finally received the keys, and the expectations. Brunson was not handed his place in New York; he earned it. And even when he arrived, the world refused to give him his flowers. The constant narrative that you can’t win with a short star even after Stephen Curry showed the blueprint still hovered over his head.

But history does not belong to those who are capable, or those who are supposed to; it belongs to those who actually do. Jalen Brunson is a special case because no one thought he was capable. Of him, and of all the other players on the Knicks, it was said that it was beyond their reach, that they simply weren’t made of the right stuff.

It couldn’t have been different. It turns out that on the stage of mega-stars, surrounded by cameras and bright lights, only one can wear the crown. The short and slow kid, selected 33rd in his class, lacking expectations or opportunities only he is fit for royalty. And all that set him apart were belief and a dream. So here you have it, Jalen Brunson: against all odds, the new King of New York.

The best team wins - the finals

Look, I’m going to try to argue something a little annoying here. After all, if we gathered to answer the question of who the best team is, and we decided that a basketball game, or a series of games, is the most accurate way to test it, there is simply no basis for an argument against the results. So I’m not going to do that; I’m going to argue something a bit more nuanced. The NBA Championship, the one the Knicks took this year against the

San Antonio Spurs, answers a much more complicated question.

Inexperience is a term thrown around a lot in the sports world. This year, with the rise of the Spurs, which is a very young team, the term took center stage. And what about character? Or the ability to execute under pressure? What about a coach’s influence: do they only prepare the team before the opening whistle, or in real-time as well? It’s easy to see how on the main stage, with the bright lights and millions of viewers, things look completely different from a pickup game among friends in the summer that nobody watches.

This is a good time to mention the Spurs’ special season. For a few years now, the franchise, considered one of the most professional in the league, has been rebuilding its team, so obviously everyone noticed. And yet, no one knew just how good they were going to be. They finished the regular season with the second-best record in the league, and if that wasn’t enough, they also eliminated the defending champions, Oklahoma, on their way to the Finals. San Antonio is the most talented team in the league, that is my opinion. They are simply amazing; their defense is a massive wall, they are athletic and talented down to the last player on the bench, yet they play as a skilled and cohesive team.

But the NBA Finals are about much more than just basketball, and the Knicks showed that to the Spurs. The experience Brunson brought in understanding when his team needed him to facilitate, and when to just take over himself. The calmness of Anunoby, who wasn’t deterred by the moment or the pressure, whose shooting percentages seemingly only went up as the games and the series progressed (he actually finished the Finals shooting over 55% from three). The desire and fighting spirit of Hart and Alvarado, who simply wanted to win more than any other player in the Finals. These are the things that tip the scales. These are things that change history. And that’s why it’s important for me to give them their due. Because a true king will proudly say that he could not have reached the throne alone.

the king won’t die - lebron

Brunson has arrived now, but the throne has been here for many years, and it has always been occupied.

You can’t talk about the kings of basketball without mentioning LeBron. The nickname “King” was given to LeBron by a local reporter back in 2001, when James was a 16-year-old boy, and I simply can’t believe anyone could have known just how fitting that name would be. LeBron entered the league with infinite expectations; at the beginning of his journey, it was said that any achievement less than “the greatest in history” would be considered a disappointment for him. But kings do not fold under the weight of words or expectations. Such was the story of his career: the world doubted him and placed expectations upon him that no human could meet, and he didn’t just meet them, he exceeded them. Such is the figure of a king, his heart protected by heavy armor against the arrows flying towards it, and his eyes set on the horizon.

Leadership skills like communication, mental resilience, and an understanding of the game distinguish LeBron on the court, but he carries the crown with him off it as well. LeBron grew up in challenging conditions, the son of a single mother in a difficult financial situation. LeBron came from nothing; every metric indicates that neither I nor you were supposed to know this name, but kings do not surrender to circumstances or hardship.

The same is true in his adult life. Even in relation to his basketball achievements, his private life is inspiring. Despite the public attention, criticism, and relentless pressure since his youth, LeBron has remained quiet, consistent, and above all - loyal. He married his childhood sweetheart whom he met during high school, and he kept his inner circle just as it was before he became a global star. LeBron is known as a family man, and he makes sure to be present in his children’s lives despite his demanding career. He also didn’t forget where he came from, investing back into the city where he grew up, and even founding a school for at-risk children to support the same community he belonged to three decades ago. Such is the figure of a king, standing in defense of his kingdom.

Soon enough, LeBron will no longer wear the jersey, and we will put him behind us, write the final chapters of his reign in the history books, and someone else will sit on the throne. But LeBron was a true king, and we must not forget him.