During the 2025 NNA Postseason, former Villanova standout and current New York Knicks superstar point guard Jalen Brunson is enjoying an epic run. After the first two games of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in Boston, the “‘Nova Knicks” are heading back to the Big Apple up 2-0 against the defending NBA Champion Celtics.
With the defending champions halfway out of the playoff door, can he continue his late-game heroics, propelling the Knicks to the next round? If past is prologue, the rest of the NBA will need to adjust when the New York point guard possesses the ball over the last 12 minutes of the game.
Villanova Great’s Heroics Propel Knicks to Improbable Comebacks in Playoffs
Without watching New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson play, you’d never know that within that 6’1″ frame beats the heart of a player with the ultimate confidence when time winds down.
Just one game removed from an epic fourth-quarter comeback, the Knicks rallied from a twenty-point deficit to escape with a victory, taking home-court advantage from the Boston Celtics.
For Brunson, he flipped a switch and entered a zone where he regularly made big shots. The series against the Celtics means more because he faces an elite defender in Jrue Holiday.
According to Tommy Beer, owner of the Substack Knicks Centric, Brunson sits head and shoulders above every other player in the NBA Playoffs.
Most points scored in the fourth quarter this postseason:
1. Jalen Brunson: 86
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2. Jamal Murray: 46
3. Ant Edwards: 45
4. Kawhi Leonard: 45
5. Jayson Tatum: 44
6. Nikola Jokic: 43
7. Cade Cunningham: 43
8. Mikal Bridges: 42
9. Donovan Mitchell: 40— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) May 8, 2025
When he played at Villanova, you could see these traits within him as the Wildcats built a mini-dynasty with the New Jersey native as their leader.
Scoring 1,667 points in 116 games means the point guard flourished when things looked the bleakest. Winning 103 of a possible 116 games means that Villanova needed an all-hands-on-deck approach. Right in the middle of it, Brunson became the constant.
Yet, despite the championship pedigree, the NBA did not initially think so, with the Dallas Mavericks selecting him with the 33rd overall pick of the 2018 draft. Bleacher Report published this scouting report that, in hindsight, feels inaccurate.
“The questions concerning his transition game revolve around how much his limited speed will hold him back. Out of spot-ups, he only converted three of 17 drives while going right. He was less effective when opponents ran him off the line, as he made just 10 of 31 dribble jumpers after catching, using a dribble, and then pulling up.”
The scouting report continued, “Brunson was excellent at finishing around the basket in college (63.5 percent), but without any explosion, it’s safer to predict that number will drop.”
RELATED: Villanova-Powered Knicks Take 2-0 Lead in Eastern Conference Semis Over Jayson Tatum, Celtics
In 2022, he signed a four-year, 104-million-dollar deal with the Knicks. From there, you could see the traits from his days at Villanova take shape. He increased his scoring average by 7.7 points per game. More importantly, the franchise trusted him to lead the team.
Not only did Brunson earn the 2024-25 Kia NBA Clutch Player of the Year award before his epic playoff run, but the guard also established a mindset. While not the Mamba Mentality that resulted in championships, the Brunson Way works for now. After a stunning victory in Game Two against the Celtics, Brunson discussed his thought pattern with CBS Sports.
“It’s a focus that I need to have at that moment,” Brunson said after Wednesday’s win. “Can’t really worry about what happened previously in the game. It’s all about just focusing, having a clear mind, and just trying to win the game. That’s just my mindset, and I wouldn’t be that way without my teammates.”
Since his days at Villanova, Brunson has flashed the internal knack for embracing the moment. The New York Knicks, with their trio of former Villanova stars, including Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart, sit in the metaphorical catbird seat. The question remains if he can sustain this as New York wants to close out the despised rival Boston Celtics.
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