Jalen Brunson’s mom gets surprise shoutout from Knicks’ Mike Brown after Game 5 win

The New York Knicks occasionally draw criticism for playing too much isolation basketball, with Jalen Brunson frequently finding himself battling defenders deep into possessions before getting off a jumper or drive at the last second. They will likely require a bit more offensive variety in order to capture the Eastern Conference throne, but Brunson’s excellence in the clutch is obviously a defining characteristic of this squad.

The star point guard brutalized the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night, scoring a game-high 39 points on 15-of-23 shooting to go along with eight assists and three rebounds. He repeatedly halted his opponent’s momentum by draining multiple buckets late in the shot clock, as the Knickerbockers secured a 3-2 series lead in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.

New York head coach Mike Brown credits one woman for Brunson’s remarkable composure in tight windows. “Comes from his mom, his mom has got a lot of patience,” he joked after a 126-97 home win, per SNY Knicks Videos. “Real sharp lady, hear that Rick?”

Mike Brown was asked where Jalen Brunson gets his comfortability in late shot clock scenarios:

"Comes from his mom, his mom has got a lot of patience. Real sharp lady, hear that Rick?" pic.twitter.com/e2UR5pv6dq

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 29, 2026

Sandra Brunson, whose husband is former NBA player and current Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, evidently instills a great amount of confidence in her son. The 2024-25 Clutch Player of the Year embraces the responsibility of lighting a spark in this offense. Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby will ideally all click at the same time, but when in doubt, No. 11 is willing to take action and charge into the heart of a defense.

Mike Brown has complete faith in Jalen Brunson, and he will continue to lean on him during these NBA playoffs. If the 29-year-old starts to run out of gas, perhaps he can tap into that patience his mother has apparently passed down to him.

New York aims to finish off Atlanta in Game 6 on Thursday.

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