NBA Finals Preview: If the Knicks Win the Championship, It Will Completely Upend My Understanding of the NBA!

The NBA Finals preview that many fans have been waiting for is finally here.

Since we're talking about it, I have to offer a perspective different from others—no need to beat around the bush; the conclusion is already in the title.

In my over 20 years of watching the NBA, there has never been a player with Jalen Brunson's height serving as the absolute leader and primary cornerstone of a team to lift the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

This is by no means "height discrimination." If you've ever played basketball, you'd understand: the sport heavily relies on physical gifts. Being just 5 centimeters taller makes a world of difference, and I believe many of you, Brother Di fans, can relate.

Since the turn of the century, which superstars have led their teams to success as the undisputed top dog?

Shaq, Duncan, Billups, Wade, Kobe, LeBron, Dirk, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic, Brown (or Tatum), SGA...

(Parker won FMVP in 2007, but I consider Duncan the real leader.)

Most of these players possess explosive athleticism and elite physical attributes.

The logic is simple: when the intensity ramps up, you have to withstand physical contact. No matter how skilled you are, you still need to get the shot off...

OK, some will surely bring up Curry.

I haven't forgotten about Curry—he is the only point guard in recent times to reach the summit as the top guy. (SGA is a shooting guard.)

We won't go into detail about Curry's shooting talent, core strength, or endurance.

But purely from a height perspective, he is 191 cm.

1.9 meters is a threshold.

Now, Brunson's official height is 188 cm, but from what I can see, he's probably only 185 cm.

There's no need to argue about that—he's definitely a small guard.

With such physical attributes, in any previous era, it would have been hard to view him as the foundation and primary leader of a title-contending team.

The NBA has never lacked stories of small guards defying the odds.

Such stories are often touching and captivating for fans.

For example, Iverson became an icon of his generation with his unstoppable style, while CP3 dominated games with his court vision.

The so-called legendary small guards either never win a championship or, when they do, are not the undisputed top guy—they are second options or role players.

Are there any exceptions in the gears of fate? Of course.

But we have to go back to 1990, when Isiah Thomas (the "Smiling Assassin") won the FMVP.

How many of you actually watched him play back then?..

This is precisely why Brunson leading the Knicks to a title would be so monumental and revolutionary.

In the brutal, high-intensity playoffs, a small guard's height disadvantage is magnified: driving is limited, defense is a liability, and finishing is compromised—these are fatal flaws that small players cannot escape.

Yet Brunson is systematically breaking this long-standing rule of the league, a rule that has held for decades.

He doesn't have jaw-dropping leaping ability or physical gifts that tower over his peers. He relies solely on elite basketball IQ, rock-solid fundamentals, exceptional physical endurance, and a fearless clutch mentality to forge the Knicks into a gritty title contender.

As the team's undisputed top dog, he handles the toughest scoring responsibilities: chasing points when trailing, breaking stalemates, and hitting game-winners in crunch time. The outcome of every hard-fought game almost rests on his shoulders alone.

Anyone who watched the Eastern Conference Finals knows how incredible Brunson has been.

In ancient times, there was the seven captures of Meng Huo; today, we have Brunson torching Harden seven times.

As they say, second place is the first loser—years later, no one remembers the runner-up.

So the big question: Can Brunson actually pull it off?

Absolutely!

Since joining the Knicks, he's averaged 31 points per game against the Spurs, and his playing style makes San Antonio uncomfortable.

Next, let's see how Castle puts pressure on him!

I know the Spurs have a lot of hype right now, especially with Wembanyama's generational talent.

But the Knicks' 11-game playoff winning streak didn't come for free.

The lineup of Brunson + Hart + Anunoby + Bridges + Towns is not afraid of the Spurs. It's a lineup with height on the wings and every player capable of hitting threes.

Unlike the Western Conference Finals against the Thunder, where they had Hartenstein as a non-shooting threat.

OK, here's the final take:

If Brunson leads the Knicks to a championship, he will be a top-15 player in NBA history in my book.

The 38-centimeter height difference between him and Wembanyama has already set a new record for the largest height gap between two star players in an NBA Finals series.

Some cheeky fans might ask: What if the Knicks win but Brunson isn't the top dog?

From a probability standpoint, that is indeed possible.

But that would be even more mind-blowing to me...

Ladies and gentlemen!

If the Knicks want to win the championship, Mr. Towns will be the key swing factor!

Could it be... haha!