Point guard Jalen Brunson was unanimously named the Eastern Finals MVP. The decision was announced shortly after the New York Knicks secured the Conference title with a sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Monday night (25).
Over the four games of the series, the star, awarded in 2018 by the Dallas Mavericks in 33rd place, stood out with averages of 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game, in addition to shooting 48.7% from the field, captaining the Knicks to victory.
JALEN BRUNSON WINS EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS MVP 👏
Walt Frazier presents Brunson with the Larry Bird Trophy 🏆
The New York Knicks are headed to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999!
— NBA (@NBA)
In this way, Brunson is the fourth to raise the Larry Bird Trophy, an award created amid the league’s 75th anniversary celebrations, in 2022, to honor one of the greatest legends in the history of the Boston Celtics, three-time NBA champion, two-time Finals MVP and three-time regular season MVP.
The Celtics, in fact, saw winger Jayson Tatum be the first winner, while Jaylen Brown was the third, in 2024, when, with the winger also taking the award.
Jalen Brunson received all nine votes from a media panel covering the Eastern Conference Finals.
The voting panel ⬇️
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR)
The other winners of the East Finals MVP were fellow forward Jimmy Butler, from the Miami Heat, in 2023, and forward Pascal Siakam, from the Indiana Pacers, last year — neither of them, however, won the NBA title, which Brunson hopes to avoid against the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs.
The Eastern Finals MVP award winners
- 2022: Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- 2023: Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
- 2024: Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
- 2025: Pascal Siakam (Indiana Pacers)
- 2026: Dallas Mavericks (New York Knicks)
