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The 2026 ESPY Awards will be held on Wednesday night at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York, with Jalen Brunson among the headline nominees.
The annual ESPN awards recognize the year’s top athletic performances, and Brunson is in contention for Best NBA Player after leading the New York Knicks to the 2026 NBA championship.
MORE: Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs discount draws criticism from ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill
Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark believes the award should belong to Brunson because of how he finished the season.
“There’s a reason that there’s three guys who were in MVP finals, right? And then Jalen Brunson,” Clark said. “The ESPYs… get to watch the season end. They know that Nikola Jokic was at his house. They know that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at his house.”
Clark argued that Brunson’s postseason separated him from every other candidate.
“This dude that everybody said couldn’t be a No. 1 scorer for a championship team found ways to win,” Clark said. “… Jalen Brunson is the best player of this year’s NBA season because of how he finished.”
Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second quarter of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Clark pointed to Brunson’s defining moments during New York’s championship run, especially the comeback victories that shaped the postseason.
“They were down 29 points in New York,” Clark said. “None of them left because they knew Jalen Brunson was going to bring them back. It was cinematic.”
He also praised Brunson’s Finals performance against San Antonio.
“It was on Jalen Brunson’s shoulders,” Clark said. “No one but him deserves to be the best player of 2026.”
Brunson backed those words with production. He averaged 26.0 points during the regular season before raising his level in the playoffs. He captured NBA Finals MVP, Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and NBA Cup MVP while leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973. His 45-point performance in the title-clinching Game 5 became the signature moment of New York’s historic season.
MORE: AJ Dybantsa reveals new career goal after conversation with former NBA star
Clark’s argument carries weight because the ESPYs recognize the full season, including the playoffs. Unlike MVP voting, postseason success is part of the equation. Brunson delivered when the stakes were highest, turning regular-season excellence into a championship.
So, whether voters agree or not, his postseason resume gives him one of the strongest cases for the award.
Continue reading...
The annual ESPN awards recognize the year’s top athletic performances, and Brunson is in contention for Best NBA Player after leading the New York Knicks to the 2026 NBA championship.
MORE: Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs discount draws criticism from ESPN’s Vincent Goodwill
Former NFL player and ESPN analyst Ryan Clark believes the award should belong to Brunson because of how he finished the season.
“There’s a reason that there’s three guys who were in MVP finals, right? And then Jalen Brunson,” Clark said. “The ESPYs… get to watch the season end. They know that Nikola Jokic was at his house. They know that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was at his house.”
Clark argued that Brunson’s postseason separated him from every other candidate.
“This dude that everybody said couldn’t be a No. 1 scorer for a championship team found ways to win,” Clark said. “… Jalen Brunson is the best player of this year’s NBA season because of how he finished.”
Jalen Brunson’s playoff run strengthened his case
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Jun 10, 2026; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama (1) during the second quarter of game four of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Clark pointed to Brunson’s defining moments during New York’s championship run, especially the comeback victories that shaped the postseason.
“They were down 29 points in New York,” Clark said. “None of them left because they knew Jalen Brunson was going to bring them back. It was cinematic.”
He also praised Brunson’s Finals performance against San Antonio.
“It was on Jalen Brunson’s shoulders,” Clark said. “No one but him deserves to be the best player of 2026.”
Brunson backed those words with production. He averaged 26.0 points during the regular season before raising his level in the playoffs. He captured NBA Finals MVP, Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and NBA Cup MVP while leading the Knicks to their first championship since 1973. His 45-point performance in the title-clinching Game 5 became the signature moment of New York’s historic season.
MORE: AJ Dybantsa reveals new career goal after conversation with former NBA star
Clark’s argument carries weight because the ESPYs recognize the full season, including the playoffs. Unlike MVP voting, postseason success is part of the equation. Brunson delivered when the stakes were highest, turning regular-season excellence into a championship.
So, whether voters agree or not, his postseason resume gives him one of the strongest cases for the award.
Continue reading...
