How the Villanova trio of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges led Knicks to NBA Finals
From left: Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges during their time at Villanova and coach Jay Wright, Brunson and Josh Hart during a game at Villanova. Credit: Getty Images/Joe Robbins; Mitchell Leff
CLEVELAND — It seemed fitting — and familiar — to see Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges climb onto the stage late Monday night carrying the Eastern Conference championship trophy and placing it on the edge of the table in front of them.
The three of them had shared stages and celebrations before when they were still college students at Villanova University, with Brunson and Bridges winning two titles together while Hart joined them for one. And it was there that they refined their games and, maybe more than anything, learned what it took to win at the highest levels. These were the lessons that had them now sitting together with another trophy in front of them and dreams, maybe more realistic than they could have ever imagined, of another trophy just four wins away.
“Yeah, it's something that is surreal,” Hart said. “When you're in college and you're in that locker room, you always kind of — you know, the goal is the NBA. And you know the percent chance that you guys are gonna be on the same team is very slim, if not none. And it's always something you talk about and dream about, but you know the reality is almost impossible.
“So the fact that it actually came to fruition is super cool, because I know the time that these guys put in. I know where their hearts are. We already share a bond and a brotherhood for life, and this is just another step there. Obviously, this is not the ultimate goal. But, you know, you just keep adding memories to that, and these are memories that we'll have for a lifetime.”
It’s worth celebrating but also worth recounting how it came to be. As the Knicks built this team brick by brick there is a moment that went as viral as any highlight on the court.
Brunson was at Villanova University’s gym on a night off of the Knicks schedule, waiting to clear out of a ceremony to retire his jersey at the school. As family and friends milled around a corridor above the court, one of his agents, Sam Rose, son of Knicks president Leon Rose, put his phone up in front of Brunson to show him the news that the Knicks had acquired Hart.
“Oh (expletive), yes,” Brunson shouted, raising his arms over his head enthusiastically.
@jalenbrunson1 post jersey retirement ceremony finding out @joshhart was traded to the @nyknicks pic.twitter.com/bffT3HFzaA
— 🏀Nova Hoops (@capj1344) February 9, 2023
The construction of the team has been fashioned with moves that might not have been notable for the sort of star power that some NBA deals carry. Brunson signed a reasonably-priced free agent deal that critics immediately labeled an overpay for a second-round pick, too small to be the centerpiece of a franchise. Hart had shuttled through teams and the cost of a player the Knicks were openly trying to rid themselves in Cam Reddish might have seemed like a minor move. And finally, Bridges was traded for in a deal that has carried with it controversy and regret from Knicks fans who bemoan the cost of a haul of first-round picks.
Individually, maybe there were doubters of the impact of any of the moves. But as they sat together it was easy to understand the plan. Leon Rose knew what Brunson could be as well as anyone. Having served as one of the NBA’s most prominent agents, Rose had represented Brunson’s father, Rick, now a Knicks assistant coach. Long before that, the elder Brunson was a player on the fringes, signing nine one-year contracts while making his way through eight different franchises, including the Knicks (where he was a bench piece on the last Knicks team to reach the NBA Finals in 1999).
With Tom Thibodeau as the coach at the time and Rick Brunson on staff, it’s not surprising that they had a belief in Jalen Brunson that maybe no one else saw at the time. And once Brunson was in place the other pieces were obtained to serve in supporting roles, moons circling Brunson’s orbit.
When a question was posed to Bridges and Hart about winning national titles with Brunson, Brunson interrupted to note with a smile, “That’s incorrect. Me and ‘Kal won two. Josh won one. But continue.” Even as they celebrate each other, they also put the needle to each other — particularly Brunson and Hart, who not only are nearly inseparable off the court, co-hosts of a podcast together and even their wives are close friends.
“I mean, like the belief that the organization has in me has been amazing, and it's something I don't take for granted,” Brunson said. “And it's something that … not a lot of people get the opportunity. So I'm very thankful. It's an honor to be here in the city, and for this organization and with my teammates. Yeah, obviously, these guys got my back and they've always had it. Wouldn't trade it for the world.”
“I think it's definitely a blessing to be a piece of the puzzle, especially in this organization,” Bridges said. “You know, like JB was saying, just grateful to be in this position, the organization believing in me personally, you know, bringing me over here. But there’s no other player, no other guard that I wanna be alongside besides JB. So I'm just very grateful to be in this position, and you know, I just gotta keep it going.”
It is the mild celebration that came with the trophy presentation Monday that might reflect well on Brunson, too. The Knicks captain has helped keep the team on an even keel, with Knicks coach Mike Brown comparing him to San Antonio legend Tim Duncan and Golden State’s Steph Curry as the best quiet leaders he’s seen in his coaching career. So there was no champagne spraying Monday night, just the final players to the podium talking about the trophy resting on the edge of the table, except for Hart, who brought a glass of wine with him.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
