New York Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson finally got to meet one of his tiniest fans inside Madison Square Garden prior to Sunday night’s 132-125 win over the Miami Heat.
Instagram user @myleanback went viral on social media in October after sharing a video of her young daughter posing for photos and saying “Brunson!” instead of “cheese!”
View this post on Instagram
one of jalen’s biggest fans showed up today and the captain drops a season-high in points 🧡💙
coincidence?? nah, just BRUNSONNNN!
vote jalen for nba all-star ⭐️ https://t.co/Ov3esq1i8z pic.twitter.com/c8GlY1Rsdl
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 22, 2025
In response to the video, the family was invited to sit courtside to watch the Knicks take on the Heat. The team shared the video on X, as well as a photo of the girl meeting her favorite player.
She also carries around with her an 8-inch Kuricha Sitting Plush toy replica of Brunson, featuring the team colors and the two-time All-Star’s signature braids.
Jalen Brunson Carried Knicks To Victory
Brunson led the Knicks to victory with a season-high 47 points against Miami. He finished 15-for-26 (57.7%) shooting from the field and 6-of-13 (46.2%) from deep to go with 11 made free throws.
Head coach Mike Brown addressed Brunson’s 38 minutes played to reporters after the game.
“You try to sit ’em as long as you can,” Brown said. “But if you feel the game slipping, it’s my job to help us win in the best way possible. … It’s a matter of I know we’re in a little bit of that we got to keep fighting to get out of, get our feet back underneath us.
“And it’s me just throwing him out there knowing we’ve got to get this game. I tried to sit him as long as I can, but it’s, ‘Let’s go get this game.’”
Karl-Anthony Towns Underperformed
Karl-Anthony Towns, meanwhile, had just two points and six rebounds in 29 minutes. The 7-footer was held scoreless over the first 25:02 and posted his fewest points since joining New York.
“He’s a special player. I think we know that,” Towns said of Brunson during his postgame interview. “And he doesn’t surprise you when he has nights like that.”
In addition, Mikal Bridges scored 24 points on 6-of-7 (85.7%) shooting from 3-point territory, Josh Hart added 13 points and 10 rebounds, and OG Anunoby scored all 18 of his points in the second half.
With 3:12 left in the fourth quarter, Miami’s Kel’el Ware made his fifth 3-pointer, then Jaime Jaquez Jr. hit a pair of free throws that cut New York’s lead to 120-118.
However, the Knicks responded with an 8-0 run, including a clutch 3-pointer by Bridges and three free throws from Brunson after a flagrant foul.
