Jalen Brunson with a reality check for Knicks after NBA title: Last year is last year

Brunson’s mindset: don’t get stuck on last season

Jalen Brunson is coming off a dream year — he played a huge role in helping the New York Knicks win their first NBA championship in 53 years. Now 30, he’s celebrated the milestone and taken some time to reflect, but he’s clear that the team can’t live on last season’s success.

In a recent interview with the New York Post, Brunson said the praise and nostalgia are fine, but the squad has to move on and find a fresh focus. “Last year is last year,” he said. He wants the team to treat the championship as motivation, not a distraction, because resting on that achievement will make it harder to improve and defend the title.

Health, role and what’s next for the Knicks

Brunson spent part of the off-season recovering from surgery on his left wrist to fix a tendon issue, and he’s reported to be feeling good as training camp approaches. Beyond his physical readiness, he’s been thinking ahead about how long he’ll keep playing at a high level.

He’s realistic about the arc of his career: he doesn’t expect to play until he can’t move anymore, but he wants to be smart about recognizing when his role changes so ego doesn’t dictate that decision. That awareness, he says, will help him know when it’s time to step back.

As the new season begins, opponents will be gunning for the Knicks. Brunson and his teammates know every other team will be motivated to spoil a repeat, so finding a renewed hunger and keeping their focus will be essential if they want to defend the title instead of treating it like a final destination.