The New York Knicks failed to meet the high expectations set by their loyal fanbase. Despite solid collective efforts from key players, especially standout Jalen Brunson, the Knicks were unable to hold off the Indiana Pacers. At last, they suffered a 125-108 defeat in Game 6 that officially knocked them out of the title race.
Before the final whistle, criticism was already mounting. Former NBA player Kendrick Perkins took to X to air his concerns about Brunson’s decision-making in crunch time. Perkins didn’t mince words, targeting Brunson’s aggressive passing and the costly turnovers that plagued the team.
“Brunson has to stop trying to make the home run pass. Sometimes you just have to make the Hockey assist,” Perkins wrote.
Brunson has to stop trying to make the home run pass. Sometimes you just have to make the Hockey assist
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) June 1, 2025
Brunson finished Saturday’s elimination game with 19 points, two rebounds, and seven assists on 8-for-18 shooting, including 2-of-7 from three-point range. He also committed five turnovers in 34 minutes of action. While his stats showed effort, the turnovers proved too damaging during critical moments of the game.
Jalen Brunson Addresses Team Bond After Game 6 Loss
After the game, Brunson addressed the media and chose not to focus on criticism or loss. Brunson addressed the belief he has in his teammates and the culture within the team.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
“No one sees the things me & him (KAT) see every day, the type of people we have, the workers we have, that’s what gives me confidence. I don’t really care what people think about us on the outside. I know what we got,” Brunson said.
Despite the early exit, Brunson’s individual performance in the Eastern Conference Finals deserves recognition. He averaged 30.7 points and 5.7 assists per game on 50% shooting from the field and 35% from three. In six games, he scored over 30 points in four of them.
Also Read: Jalen Brunson Is Getting Called Out For Flopping After Controversial Foul Call On Andrew Nembhard
