OKC, Celtics, and Spurs Favored Over Knicks as Jalen Brunson Gets New Motivation

The Jalen Brunson-led New York Knicks have just won the NBA championship, and discussions have already begun about who will lift the trophy next year. No team has repeated as champions in the last eight seasons, and many oddsmakers expect that trend to continue in 2027. Instead, three other teams have emerged as early favorites.

Several sportsbooks have placed the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Boston Celtics ahead of the Knicks as the leading contenders for the 2027 title.

While Brunson himself has not answered the doubters verbally, one person believes he'll use that as motivation. In his article for The Athletic, Ian O'Connor stated his belief that Brunson has just found himself a new reason to push for another championship.

"Now that he has silenced the skeptics and critics, Brunson will hunt for more doubters and haters to use as extra sources of motivation," O'Connor wrote.

"If he has to create them, he will. It doesn't matter if the slights are real or imagined. Brunson will use them to prove people wrong all over again as he tried to join Walt Frazier and Willis Reed in the Knicks' two-title club."

It would certainly serve as extra motivation for Brunson to go back-to-back after delivering New York its first championship in more than 50 years. At the same time, it won't be easy. The Thunder, Celtics, and Spurs are all legitimate threats, and there could be other teams that strengthen their rosters during the offseason and emerge as contenders as well.

But if anyone thinks Brunson will fold under the pressure, they're mistaken.

Brunson has never publicly responded to his biggest critics. In 2023, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon argued that, as great as he was, he wasn't built to be the No. 1 option on a championship team because of his 6-foot-2 frame.

Even after the Knicks reached the NBA Finals, Hammon stood by that stance. She also found support from one of the NBA's most outspoken players, Draymond Green. Green argued that the Knicks were expected to come out of the Eastern Conference and that doing so did not automatically make them title favorites.

He also challenged Brunson to prove him wrong.

Brunson's response, meanwhile, made it clear that he didn't need to say anything. He just needed to let his game do the talking, and in that regard, he played to a level of greatness only seen in the most elite stars.

In fact, the greatness he displayed in the 2026 Finals prompted Green to apologize.

Draymond Green Apologizes to Jalen Brunson For Doubting His Ability

Draymond Green has never shied away from vocalizing his thoughts. He's also never been the type to stand by his takes after being proven wrong.

He did exactly that even before Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks put the San Antonio Spurs away for good. Green, one of Brunson's loudest doubters, took the chance to apologize to him live and in person.

Green was part of Inside the NBA's coverage of the Finals. After Game 4, they got the opportunity to sit down with Brunson for an interview.

During that conversation, Green said he wanted to apologize to Brunson in person and that he would do so again after the Knicks finally won the title.

"One game from now, I’m going to tell you now cause I want to tell you to your face, but then I’ll say it publicly after. But I’m going to apologize in one game. So I’m going to say right now to your face, 'I'm sorry.' Then I'll say it when you go get your ring: 'I apologize.' Represent all them little men out there."

Brunson didn't say much, except that he appreciated the gesture from the Golden State Warriors star.

The Knicks star guard certainly earned that apology. Despite being one of the shortest players on the court at 6-foot-2, he led his team in scoring (32.6 points) and steals (2.0).

He also hit some of the biggest clutch shots of the series, which helped elevate the team in one of the most tightly contested Finals ever.