"I feel for him," Brunson said. "It's an unfortunate situation for a player like him. The league needs Jayson Tatum. What he's been able to do in his career has been remarkable. He still has a lot to do in his career, meaning he has a lot of time to make an impact and make a name for his legacy. What he's done is special."

Hard work pays off. Just ask Jalen Brunson. The son of an ex NBA player who now serves as his assistant coach, the barely 6ft 1in Brunson has risen from second-round pick to unquestioned leader

The Boston Celtics might have done a great job containing Jalen Brunson early in the Eastern Conference Finals. But they are aware of the threat the All-Star guard poses. The New York Knicks managed to take a 2-0 lead even though Brunson struggled to get buckets more than usual.

Jalen Brunson’s 18-point third quarter had just turned what was once a 14-point deficit into a three-point Knicks lead going into the fourth quarter of Game 4, but the Celtics had another punch in them.