It's no secret that New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is a star, but superfan Ben Stiller was blown away by his NBA Finals Game 1 performance.
During an interview with Antonio Daniels and Rob Perez, Stiller spoke at length about Brunson's Game 1 performance. He's always been a fan of Brunson, but Game 1 gave him even more respect.
“I've been a Brunson fan since the beginning, just because I think I root for the underdog, I root for the smaller guy. But, man, last night, having the opportunity to watch it that close and to be around it a little bit after the game, I thought I knew Jalen Brunson in terms of how good he is, but I felt like I was witnessing something really, really next level. The aura.”
"I thought I knew how good Jalen Brunson was, but I felt like I was witnessing something really, really next level."
Ben Stiller on watching Brunson's Game 1 masterpiece.
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He then compared the way that he left the court to the final scene in Rocky. A”determined” Brunson had just willed his team to a win.
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Jalen Brunson's 30-point performance in the Knicks' NBA Finals Game 1 win
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts in the second half during game one of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center.
Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
The Knicks were down by double digits in the third quarter of Game 1 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Things weren't looking good, and then Brunson came alive.
New York's captain willed his team to a win despite going down a couple of times earlier in the game with injuries. He wasn't always efficient, making less than 40% of his shots, but he still made the ones that mattered most. His late basket to give the Knicks a six-point lead was one of the most important moments of the game.
Heading into Game 2, Brunson and the Knicks will need to keep up the momentum. They came out sluggish against the Spurs, who were coming off a seven-game series against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Luckily, they are up 1-0 in the series.
It's no secret that New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is a star, but superfan Ben Stiller was blown away by his NBA Finals Game 1 performance. During an interview with Antonio Daniels and Rob Perez, Stiller spoke at length about Brunson's Game 1 performance. He's always been a fan of Brunson, but Game 1 gave him even more respect.