The New York Knicks watched their historic 13-game playoff winning streak evaporate at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. The San Antonio Spurs grabbed a 115-111 win in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, shrinking New York’s series advantage to 2-1.
The postgame analysis from Stephen A. Smith shifted the spotlight to the Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and his 32-point night, but not for the reasons one would imagine.
Why Stephen A. Smith Is Baffled by Jalen Brunson’s Game 3 Performance
Playing in the first Finals game at MSG since 1999, the Knicks looked primed to take a commanding series lead.
However, the Victor Wembanyama-led Spurs found their momentum at the right time, bouncing back from their self-inflicted Game 2 heartbreak. The 22-year-old posted 32 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists to set the tone for an inspiring San Antonio victory.
For the Knicks, however, Brunson’s 32 points were not enough, and after the game, Smith issued a harsh reality check on Brunson’s volume-heavy approach.
Smith, who recently claimed Brunson has the potential to go down as an all-time Knicks great, had no option but to issue a scathing criticism of the Eastern Conference Finals MVP’s performance, accusing him of prioritizing individual performance.
“I’m shocked to have to say this because he’s a superstar that we’re so appreciative of what he has done for the New York Knicks organization. But tonight, it looked like he was playing to be an MVP rather than playing to win Game 3.”
“Tonight, it looked like he was playing to be an MVP rather than playing to win Game 3.”@StephenASmith discusses Jalen Brunson’s Game 3 performance with @notthefakesvp ✍️ pic.twitter.com/zmAPjhDSE4
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 9, 2026
Pointing out the flawed offensive approach, Smith piled on.
“25 shots in the time that he (Brunson) played. Karl-Anthony Towns only gets 10 attempts, four in the second half, how does that happen? Josh Hart is hitting shots in the first half, he only gets five shots in the second half, how did that happen?”
Smith highlighted OG Anunoby’s lack of second-half touches as one of the factors that contributed to New York losing their offensive edge as the game progressed.
In the 35 minutes that he played, Brunson went 11-for-25 from the floor with 5 assists and 5 rebounds to his tally.
This is not an isolated incident for Brunson, who went 12-of-31 in Game 1 and 7-of-25 in Game 2. While his scoring has remained high, the efficiency has not kept pace with the volume.
With Game 4 of the Finals on Wednesday, the Knicks and Brunson have to return to team basketball or risk fueling San Antonio’s momentum and surrendering the series lead.
