Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks are hanging on by a thread in the NBA title race. After a crucial Game 5 win, they’ve managed to extend their season and push the series to Game 6 to keep their championship hopes alive. For Brunson, Games 6 and 7 are a must-win if the Knicks are to continue their quest for a title.
Former NBA star JR Smith decided to send Brunson a cheeky reminder of what’s on the line. During Brunson’s live interview with SportsCenter on Friday, Smith unexpectedly stepped in with a humorous moment that quickly went viral. Smith was caught on camera playfully rubbing his championship rings on Brunson’s shoulder, making it clear he has ring fever now.
JR Smith rubbed his championship rings on Jalen Brunson’s shoulder during a Sportscenter interview & told him he has “ring fever now” 😂💍💍
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) May 30, 2025
SVP: “Who is molesting your shoulder?”
JR: “You got ring fever now!”
Jalen Brunson: “JR Smith”
SVP:”Tell JR Van Pelt said leave you… pic.twitter.com/L3Zsz3gcdy
Smith is no stranger to winning at the highest level. He earned two NBA championships during his career. His first title came with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and another with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. For Brunson, who’s aiming to lead the Knicks to their first title in decades, the playful nudge served as both a funny and motivating moment.
Karl-Anthony Towns Praises Jalen Brunson After Game 5 Win
Following the Game 5 victory, Karl-Anthony Towns didn’t hold back in giving Jalen Brunson his flowers. During the postgame press conference, Towns expressed admiration for Brunson’s performance.
“He was cooking! That’s what I saw. When he’s playing like that and hitting shots, obviously that energizes everyone. We did a great job of just executing, holding them to 23 points in the first quarter, something that we did not do well in the last game,” Towns said.
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Brunson led all Knicks scorers in Game 5 with 32 points, five rebounds, and five assists in 34 minutes. Now Brunson and the Knicks will travel to Indiana. With elimination looming, the team will need its sharpest effort yet to keep their championship dreams alive.
