New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP after leading his team to a four-game sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers, the first trip to the NBA Finals for the Knicks since 1999. According to NBA.com. Brunson scored 16 points in Monday night’s 130-93 Game 4 clincher and averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game against Cleveland while shooting 48.7% overall in that series.

Wembanyama’s dominance

San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama is shaping up as the most valuable player of the 2026 NBA playoffs so far, despite his team being on the brink of elimination against the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. According to ESPN. Wembanyama is averaging 23.1 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 3.8 blocks per game in the playoffs, with the Spurs holding a plus-17.3 net rating with him on the court. In the conference finals, the gap is even more pronounced: a plus-6.1 net rating with Wembanyama versus a minus-60.3 without him.

Wembanyama ranks first among all players in the playoffs in ESPN’s net points metric, first in estimated plus-minus, and second in box plus-minus, behind only Karl-Anthony Towns. His performance has been so impactful that it’s difficult to say whether Towns has even been the most valuable player on his own team this spring.

Knicks’ historic sweep

The New York Knicks completed a four-game sweep over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday to reach the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, according to ESPN. Jalen Brunson received all nine votes from a media panel covering the Eastern Conference Finals to win the Larry Bird Trophy as the Most Valuable Player of the series.

Brunson, who signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the Knicks in 2022, has silenced many critics with his performance. He averaged 24 ppg in his first season and added three straight All-Star selections. In Game 1 of the conference finals, he scored 38 points to fuel New York’s comeback from a 22-point hole in the fourth quarter.

“It’s an honor to be here in this city and this organization,” Brunson said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world. We’re still writing our story, but I like the journey that we’re on right now.”

Thunder’s role players shine

While two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Wembanyama did not perform up to their standards in Game 5 of the Thunder-Spurs series, several role players stepped up to keep Oklahoma City’s title hopes alive. According to ESPN, Alex Caruso delivered a 20-point, six-assist effort in Game 5 while playing his usual disruptive defense. Isaiah Hartenstein had a 12-point, 15-rebound performance while helping hold Wembanyama to 4-of-15 shooting from the field.

Jared McCain, making the first start of his playoff career, shook off a slow start to score 18 of his 20 points in the second half as the Thunder pulled away to put the Spurs on the brink of elimination. The Thunder lead the series 3-2, with Game 6 set for Thursday.

According to Basketball-World, Gilgeous-Alexander is no longer dominating the playoffs as he did earlier in the season. The Spurs are taking away his easiest looks and forcing him to make difficult decisions. In Game 5, SGA struggled early with only one make in six attempts and four turnovers. However, he finished the game with 32 points, nine assists, and two steals, helping the Thunder secure another win.

Even when he’s not getting the ball, OKC is still effective. The team is better per 100 possessions when Gilgeous-Alexander is off the court, according to available data. That doesn’t mean the team is better without him, but it does show how deep and stable the roster has become.