Jalen Brunson spoke at New York Knicks practice ahead of Game 5 of the NBA Finals against San Antonio Spurs. One win away from the championship, the point guard emphasized the mentality that has guided the team throughout the series: don't look ahead, maintain focus, rely on the group's confidence, and prepare for the next game as if everything starts from zero.
Q. In your opinion, what attribute allows you as a group to stay in games, respond, and never give up?
JALEN BRUNSON: Our mentality. Our belief and our confidence in each other, I think that helps us in that regard. It really starts with our mental approach.
Q. You've said I don't know how many times that you have the best fans in the world. There are reports that, once again, they're buying tickets to be here for tomorrow's game. When you're out there, going into what's supposed to be hostile territory, what does it feel like when you hear a crowd cheering instead of booing?
JALEN BRUNSON: Yes, I appreciate it more than I think I'll ever be able to express. I'm very grateful. It's a really beautiful experience. Like I said, it's something you can't really talk about; you just have to live it.
Q. Obviously you've won at every level. Here you are, one game away. What are some of the key attributes of a winning player? What are some of those characteristics you think really matter for what it takes to win at the highest level?
JALEN BRUNSON: I think the one thing that stays constant through all of that is that I've always told myself, and my parents have always taught me, to never be afraid to fail.
You put yourself in those situations during the offseason, when you're imagining what's happening on the court, when you're alone on the court, to improve in the summer.
When those opportunities come, you're not afraid of the moment because you've worked hard enough that, if you fail, you're still going to learn. You put the confidence you have in everything you do when the lights are on into what you do when nobody's watching.
That's the mentality my parents instilled in me. I think at every step of the way, from high school to college, every coach I've had has helped me improve it. But it really starts with them. I'm very grateful to them.
Q. I'm sure you thought about this moment for a long time, but does it feel different? Does it feel like you're one step away from a championship?
JALEN BRUNSON: 0-0.
Q. How have you been able to find normalcy during these Finals? Have you been able to find some normalcy in your life during this past week and a half, two weeks?
JALEN BRUNSON: Yes. I think I've also been able to understand what a unique opportunity this is. So, really, it's not that normal. When you do the things that help you prepare for the game, prepare for the moments, when you get into routines you've done throughout your career, throughout your life, when game time comes you're ready to compete because you've put yourself, you've put your mind, in a position to be prepared.
I also have a very unique circle that keeps me humble. I wouldn't trade that for anything.
Q. When Wednesday night comes, even yesterday morning you were still in New York, it feels like a celebration. How were you able to put that aside and start preparing for what's next?
JALEN BRUNSON: Yes, I think every time you win or lose a game, that night, I mean, you're going to think about it, about the things you did well or what you did wrong.
I've always told myself that when you wake up the next day, it's time to move on. Yes, we won, but we still have a lot of work to do. We have a lot to learn. We didn't play our best basketball. We still have a lot to review to make sure we don't put ourselves really in that position again.
But, honestly, we still have to keep having the belief we've had. That's really important from that standpoint.
Q. Before the series there was a lot of attention on the winning streak, the margins by which you were winning games. These games haven't been like that. What does this group have that, when things are rolling, it seems easy, but when you've had to get down in the trenches, you're able to find that gear when you need it?
JALEN BRUNSON: Obviously, when we practice, we have video, we talk about situations, about what we need to do, you're always preparing for the worst-case scenario. If this happens, we need to prepare for this. If that happens, we need to prepare for that.
Our mentality and our focus are on one possession at a time, one play at a time, one quarter at a time. You're thinking about the now, about how you can be better on the next possession, how you can move on, whether it's positive or negative.
Regardless of what's happening, our mentality and our focus have to stay the same. I think we've done a really good job with that. It's something that's grown throughout the season. It's really important, especially now, obviously.
Q. In practice the other day you were talking about the development of your relationship with Karl. One of the things you said is that you felt there was an unfair narrative about him when he arrived. What was that narrative and how has he dismantled it?
JALEN BRUNSON: Yes, that narrative was placed on him by the outside world. You never really know what a person is like until you, obviously, know them face to face and see what he says and what his actions are.
Being the teammate that he is, seeing his sacrifices, seeing what he's done throughout his career, all of that puts him in position to become a Hall of Famer. Honestly, I wouldn't trade that for anything. The things he's done have been extraordinary. I'm not very sure how he's going to respond to me saying all these good things about him.
He's a tremendous basketball player, but honestly he's an even better teammate.