New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is named the 2026 NBA Finals MVP after leading the team to its first NBA championship since 1973. Multiple outlets report that Brunson played a central role in the Knicks’ playoff run culminating in the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. In Game 5, he scored 45 points and delivered what several sources describe as a decisive performance to help New York win the clinching game and the series. CBS Sports and others highlight the 45-point output as the key factor behind his Finals MVP honor. Other coverage emphasizes Brunson’s broader impact since joining the Knicks in the 2022 offseason, describing his role in transforming the team into NBA champions. Outlets also note the Knicks’ championship is both a franchise milestone and the end of a long title drought. In addition, at least one source connects Brunson’s career path—second-round pick in the 2018 NBA draft and former Villanova collegiate champion—to his eventual role as Knicks captain and Finals MVP following the Knicks’ Finals victory over the Spurs.