NBA: Jalen Brunson is named Eastern Finals MVP after Knicks title
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).
Throughout 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 a 4-0 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! pic.twitter.com/a8JwvUQ0Kk
- NBA (@NBA) May 26, 2026
In this way, Brunson is the fourth to lift 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 the Massachusetts franchise ended up winning the NBA title after beating the Dallas Mavericks, with the winger also winning the Finals MVP award.
Jalen Brunson received all nine votes from a media panel covering the Eastern Conference Finals.
The voting panel pic.twitter.com/JuKA7hkdNy
- NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 26, 2026
The other winners of the Eastern Finals MVP were also 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.
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)
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Source: CNN