The New York Knicks are in the thick of a brutal playoff slugfest with the Indiana Pacers, trailing 2-1 heading into Game 4. But while the basketball world watches Jalen Brunson’s every move and waits for his next masterpiece, the Icepick took a rare detour. One that shed light not on himself, but on the man pulling the strings behind the curtain: Tom Thibodeau.
Brunson’s words didn’t come in a prepped statement or with PR gloss. They were raw, unscripted, and full of respect—the kind that can’t be faked. On the sidelines, a reporter asked Brunson what this first-round run could mean for Thibs’ career. Brunson opened up. “Watching this man work tirelessly, day in and day out—364 days out of the year, he maybe takes one day off—it would mean a lot,” Brunson said, pausing before adding, “But I know he’s not thinking about that. I know he’s not thinking about what it would mean to him. He’s just thinking about what can we do to better him forward.”
That’s Thibs in a nutshell, isn’t it? All grind, no fluff. But here’s the thing: behind every late-night film session and hoarse courtside bark is a man whose NBA head coaching journey has never ended in the Finals. Not yet. And while Thibodeau’s relentless style has always been headline material, even less examined is the tandem Thibs and Brunson have forged. One’s a tireless tactician. The other? A cold-blooded floor general who seems to thrive under the exact pressure Thibodeau manufactures. “He’s obviously been in a lot of battles… been on different teams and had different successes,” Brunson said. “We haven’t necessarily talked about it, but… it would mean a lot.”
Brunson understands exactly what a Finals berth would do for Thibs’ legacy. He also knows it won’t come up in the locker room. Not even once. And as Brunson talks about the behind-the-scenes of Thibs & Co., in typical New York fashion, the Garden faithful are already looking beyond Game 4 and prepping for the next chapter. One Knicks fan just won free tickets to Game 5 after winning a Jalen Brunson look-alike competition (yes, that’s a real thing). And no, it wasn’t even close. According to @FullCourtPass, the contest was part of a Knicks promotional event that’s gone viral for its uncanny doppelgänger and absurdly dedicated vibes.
This Knicks fan won free tickets to Game 5 for winning a Jalen Brunson look-alike competition
(Via @Yoav_Modai) pic.twitter.com/MSPIfYTast
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) May 26, 2025
That’s where this version of the Knicks separates itself. It’s not just a team, but an event. Fans don’t just watch it, they live it. The kind of emotional buy-in that makes Madison Square Garden a playoff pressure cooker.
Is Jalen Brunson the first Knicks star since Ewing who actually fits the Garden?
The Knicks-Pacers rivalry isn’t some distant memory—it’s a living, breathing saga that’s about to get a 2025 remix. For decades, it was Ewing versus Miller, New York grit clashing with Indiana’s cold-blooded killer instinct. Remember 1995? Reggie Miller dropping eight points in nine seconds, turning Madison Square Garden into a hostile zoo, with Spike Lee caught in the crossfire. That ’95 feud was as personal as it gets: Garden roar against Miller’s ice-water focus. Fast forward to now, and you’ve got Jalen Brunson and Tyrese Haliburton stepping into those massive shoes, but with a twist.
Brunson isn’t just another star. Through the playoffs, he’s averaged 25.3 points per game. He’s arguably the first true Knicks lead man since Ewing who actually gets what the Garden demands—a blend of toughness, craftiness, and street-smart swagger. Let’s talk about aspects that aren’t arguable. Brunson has not only averaged 26.2 points per game, the highest postseason scoring mark by a Knick in his first 40 games since Ewing’s 20.2 PPG over 135 contests. But he’s also racked up 18 30-point outings, matching Ewing’s franchise record in fewer than one-third of the games
Meanwhile, Haliburton plays the same ice-cold assassin role Reggie perfected, with a side of small-market hunger that you just can’t make up. So, are we witnessing the rebirth of one of the NBA’s most electric rivalries? And more importantly, is Brunson finally the Knicks star that can tame the Garden’s beast and bring that elusive championship glory back home?
And well, make no mistake, Thibodeau’s resume is already thick with receipts. NBA Coach of the Year (2011, 2021). NBA All-Star Game head coach in 2012. Defensive culture builder in Minnesota. But the ring? The Finals appearance? Still missing. That’s what makes this so personal, even if Thibs would never say it out loud. This Knicks team, led by a Brunson-Thibs duo that’s locked in like they’ve been scripting this for a decade, is giving him a legitimate shot at history.
And don’t forget: after the season, roster decisions, injuries, and a very real Eastern Conference arms race will make this path even tougher in 2026. So, no, Thibs isn’t thinking about legacy. But if Brunson has anything to say about it, he’s about to build it anyway, one possession at a time.
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