Philadelphia 76ers star LeBron James, whose opinion always commands respect, offered a unique perspective on the 2026 NBA Finals, suggesting that OG Anunoby, rather than official winner Jalen Brunson, truly deserved the MVP award. The New York Knicks captured the championship in five competitive games against the San Antonio Spurs, with Brunson earning the top individual honor.
The Numbers Say Brunson, But LeBron Saw More
Look, Jalen Brunson’s Finals numbers were flat-out incredible. He was putting up 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game in that five-game series against the Spurs. That’s Finals MVP caliber stuff right there, and most people absolutely tapped him for the award. But LeBron sees the bigger picture. He’s appreciating Anunoby’s all-around game, saying OG was “everywhere on the floor.” We saw it, right? Those massive plays, like the chase-down block on De’Aaron Fox or that clutch game-winning tip-in in Game 4, those don’t always show up in the main stat line but they turn games.
Anunoby’s own stat sheet was still seriously impressive: 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1 assist, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Talk about an all-around standout! While Brunson was definitely the “head of the snake,” as LeBron put it, you can’t deny OG’s immense impact throughout the series.
“Most Steady Person”: LeBron Breaks Down His Pick
LeBron didn’t just casually mention it, either. He went deep on his “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, explaining exactly why he felt Anunoby was the man. “OG, I think, was the MVP of the team in the Finals,” James said. “Obviously, Brunson became the MVP. But it’s the small things: the chase-down block on Fox, the tip for the game, continuing to knock down threes. We knew Jalen Brunson was the head of the snake. But I think OG was the most steady person for that team.” That’s a bold claim, especially when Brunson’s scoring was so dominant.
It really highlights how much the little things matter, huh? Even if Anunoby didn’t grab the official hardware, having one of the game’s all-time greats single you out for that kind of praise speaks volumes about his impact. It shows you how deep his contribution ran for the Knicks during that championship run.
So, while we’re all still talking about who *should have* won MVP, the Knicks themselves are already looking ahead. Word is they’re being urged to make a trade to clear some room for Bruce Brown. Meanwhile, Mike Brown’s got his sights set on the 2026-27 regular season, looking to build on what the Knicks accomplished. There’s also some drama brewing with Karl-Anthony Towns reportedly disappointed after contract talks, and Jalen Brunson’s been blunt about those contract discussions involving Towns and Josh Hart. And don’t forget Anthony Edwards, who’s already sent a warning to the rest of the NBA after the Knicks took a preseason loss. It’s clear the league’s got its eyes on the Knicks, and the offseason is already setting up some wild storylines for what’s next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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