Jalen Brunson, arguably the best point guard in the NBA today, scored 41 points (10/19 t2, 3/8 t3 and 12/16 tl), 3 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Knicks to a 115-118 win over the Sixers that clinched the New York Knicks a second round bye in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.

The exhibition of the small player of just 1.88 m and 27 years old was total, demonstrating that today he is a practically unstoppable player.

It was his third consecutive game in this Playoff series scoring 40 points or more (he scored 47 in the fourth, 40 in the fifth and 41 in the sixth), making him the first Knicks player to do so since Bernard King did it 40 years ago.

Living up to the legend

To highlight his superb performance, suffice it to say that he is the first NBA player to score 40 or more points to close out a title game since Michael Jordan did it for the Chicago Bulls against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round of the 1989 playoffs.

The legend scored the winning shot with two seconds left in the fifth and final game to send his team to the second round.

In that series against the Cavs, Jordan averaged 39.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 3 steals. And he scored 46 points in the last three games of the playoffs, 44 in the third, 50 in the fourth and 44 in the fifth and final game, in which he also contributed 9 rebounds and 6 assists.

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Brunson‘s feat, while there is no comparison with the myth, is extraordinary in itself. In fact, he is only the third player 27 or older to average 35 or more points per game to win a series. The others were Michael Jordan and Elgin Baylor.

Three straight playoff games with 40 points or more

And having scored 40 or more points in three consecutive playoff games also makes him an exceptional player today. There are only two players currently active in the NBA who have achieved this, Jamal Murray of the Nuggets and Jalen Brunson himself.

Another fact that also highlights his performance in these playoffs is that in his six games against the Sixers he has averaged more points and assists (35.5 and 9) than another prodigy, Luka Doncic, in his five games against the Clippers (30.2 and 8.8).

The Slovenian does surpass the Knicks‘ player in rebounds (9.2 to 5). So much for so much. Two phenomena who are already making their mark in the NBA and are set to dominate the league in the coming years.