THE TAKE
One quarter into the NBA Finals, Jalen Brunson is affirming the concerns people have about small guards being able to win it all.
The closer you get. The more physical it gets. So far, Brunson’s body is betraying him.
BOLDNESS
35/100
GRADE
12/100
PLAYERS / TEAMS
Jalen Brunson
GRADING CRITERIA
TRUE IF
Brunson finishes the 2026 NBA Finals with notably diminished performance metrics (e.g., shooting efficiency, points, or assists declining significantly from his regular season or prior playoff averages) and his team loses, widely attributed in part to his physical limitations. Take is
FALSE IF
Brunson maintains or improves his performance across the series or leads his team to a championship.
recency biashot takevague
OUTCOME
CONFIRMED FALSEThe prediction was made after Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals (June 3), which the Knicks won 105-95. While Brunson did suffer minor leg/ankle tweaks and shot inefficiently early (5-for-18 at one point), he gutted out 30 points including 13 in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Far from 'betraying' him, his body held up and he delivered in the clutch — consistent with his playoff averages of 27.1 PPG across 15 games. Brunson came into the Finals as ECF MVP after sweeping the Cavaliers.