Knicks Star Cut Off Playoffs After Loss

For Jalen Brunson, the NBA Playoffs ended with the New York Knicks' elimination.

May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) flexes his left hand during the third quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Like many Madison Square Garden visitors, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson just couldn't keep watching when his favorite character was killed off.

That character, of course, was the 2023-24 Knicks, who saw an otherwise sterling season come to an end with a seven-game loss to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. That defeat was hardly Brunson's fault, though the first-time All-Star/All-NBA nominee fell victim to the injury bug that apparently invaded the New York locker room, as he was forced to leave the dreary finale with a fractured hand.

May 19, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the second quarter of game seven of the second round of the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Indiana Pacers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports / Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

As if the hand wasn't physically painful enough, Brunson found the rest of the NBA Playoffs too mentally taxing to bear after the Knicks' elimination.

"I didn't watch a full game after (the Pacers series)," Brunson told host Camron Smith during an appearance on Stadium's "Inside the Association." "I can't. I just can't. I've seen bits and pieces ... wherever you go, on your phone, on TV, something is being shown about it. But, I just, I can't."

"As a competitor, you wish you were there. So, for me, I just couldn't do it."

Brunson did have a potential rooting interest leftover in the NBA's final four: the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson's original NBA employers, reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 2011 after disposing of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finale. Brunson does remain close with several of his former North Texas teammates, such as franchise face Luka Doncic.

Spectator status in the battle for the Larry O'Brien Trophy, however, no longer has any morsel of appeal for the third-year Knick.

Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (center) and forward Jayson Tatum (right) celebrate with Celtics director of rehabilitation Steve Mount in the locker room after winning the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Elsa/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports / Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

"I've always told myself that all the individual stuff is great," Brunson said. "(But) I think without team success, you can't achieve any of those goals. So, honestly, I just want to continue to win. I'm going to keep fighting to win a championship. We've just got to continue to take one step at a time."

It's not like Brunson missed much upon skipping the final rounds: the Mavericks needed but five games to master Minnesota while the Pacers' reward for knocking the Knicks was a four-game sweep at the hands of the Boston Celtics, who eventually defeated Dallas in five to win their record 18th NBA championship.

Make sure you bookmark All Knicks for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

• Pistons Perfect Trade Partner?
• Why DiVincenzo's Sitting Out Olympics
• DiVincenzo Trusts Thibodeau's "Next Step"
• Report: Knicks Set Sights on Kessler Trade
• Liberty-Lynx Preview