Jalen Brunson's Is 100% Sheer Determination

As the famous philosopher Yoda might say, "Sheer determination is Brunson."

Nobody left in the NBA playoffs plays harder and seemingly wants to win more than Jalen Brunson. His sheer determination separates Brunson from the rest of the pack, turning the New York Knicks into must-see playoff basketball. He is on the verge of leading the Knicks to their first appearance in the Eastern Conference since 2000.

It's hard to believe that the Knicks have successfully avoided the Eastern Conference Finals for 23 years.

One could argue that Brunson’s superman-like performance in game five against the Indiana Pacers makes him a leading candidate for the NBA’s playoff MVP—if that award existed for the first two rounds.

Brunson starts every playoff game with a decimated roster, which doesn’t seem to matter. Just think about the players missing in action from the Knicks roster: OG Anunoby, who is game to game, and Mitchell Robinson, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Julies Randle, who are out for the season.

The best way to describe Brunson's gutsy performance in game 5 is spectacular. Leading the short-handed Knicks to a 121-91 win over the Pacers, scoring 44 points on 34 shots. His 28-point first half is the highest for a Knicks player in any half of a playoff game since 1996-97. 

Even more impressive is that he scored 40 or more points in five games during this year's playoff run, and we are still in the second round. Check out the other members of the club Brunson has joined. 

So, if you find yourself in a debate with a Denver Nuggets fan who claims Nikola Jokic is the playoff MVP, remind them of the pure determination Brunson plays with on a decimated roster while Jokic’s Nuggets are playing at full strength.