Jalen Brunson addressed the media ahead of the New York Knicks’ Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the Indiana Pacers, keeping his focus strictly on the task at hand.
Brunson emphasized the team’s internal mindset and dismissed any outside speculation. “For the most part, we like to keep everything in-house,” he said. “There’s a lot of misconceptions about everyone, and that’s fine. Control what you can control.”
The Knicks are returning to the conference finals for the first time since 2000 after eliminating the defending champion Boston Celtics in six games. While the milestone was celebrated by fans, Brunson made it clear the locker room isn’t dwelling on it. “We didn’t really look at it as an accomplishment,” he stated. “It’s just the next step. We’re grateful, we’re thankful, but we know there’s a long way to go.”
Brunson also addressed his upcoming battle with Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton, who has led the Pacers to back-to-back conference finals appearances. The two shared a memorable moment last year in a WWE promotional event, but Brunson said that has little bearing now. “That night is totally different from what we’re about to go through,” he said. “That was a cool experience, something for the bucket list.”
Asked about Haliburton’s role, Brunson praised his counterpart while acknowledging the challenge. “He’s obviously their engine, and they go as he goes,” Brunson said. “He’s done a lot for their team. It’s going to be a tough task.”
The Knicks’ point guard reflected on the defensive effort that clinched Game 6 against Boston, seeing it as a template for the next series. “We’re going to have to communicate, talk, and do whatever we got to do,” he said. “Our talk and our energy has to be consistent.”
When asked if there was any frustration about the inconsistency of that high-level defense, Brunson pushed back. “Frustration? No. But we know what we’re capable of. It sets the bar,” he said. “We just got to continue to play at that level.”
The Pacers enter the series after knocking out Cleveland in five games. Despite their offensive pace and perimeter shooting, Brunson insists the Knicks’ preparation remains steady. “It’s a new challenge for us,” he said. “We just got to stick together and do what we do.”
New York opens the series at Madison Square Garden against a team it last faced in a conference final 25 years ago. Still, Brunson isn’t focused on the history. “We know there’s a long way to go,” he said. “We got to have each other’s back.”
