‘Emotional’ Mariska Hargitay Credits Jalen Brunson For ‘Uniting’ New York With Championship

Mariska Hargitay is a huge New York Knicks fan so she made sure to congratulate Knicks' Jalen Brunson on his NBA championship win.

‘Emotional’ Mariska Hargitay Credits Jalen Brunson For ‘Uniting’ New York With Championship

Jalen Brunson and Mariska Hargitay (Image credits - Firstsportz)

Jalen Brunson can already be labeled as a New York Knicks legend. After falling short in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, the Knicks guard led the franchise to its first NBA championship since 1973.

The celebrations have been nonstop since the Knicks won Game 5 over the San Antonio Spurs at the Frost Bank Center. It was a convincing performance from Brunson as he was named the Finals MVP in his first NBA Finals appearance.

American actress Mariska Hargitay got emotional when talking about Brunson and the impact he has had in the city of New York.

Jalen embodies the heart, the grit and the fight of this city. It is beyond profound. The way he has unified all of us is so extraordinary.

Mariska Hargitay during the victory parade

Hargitay and Jalen Brunson have built a solid friendship during the Knicks’ playoff run. Brunson shared a text message he received from the Hollywood star after winning Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

The celebration parade on Thursday saw hundreds of thousands of people gather on the streets. It has been a long wait. The passionate fanbase saw fans getting their spots for the parade nearly 24 hours before it started.

Several big names took part in the parade, including Hargitay. The die-hard Knicks fan got emotional when speaking about Brunson and what he has achieved for the club this year. The actress is a regular attendee at Madison Square Garden and was present during the NBA Finals this year.

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Mariska Hargitay compares the scenes at the parade to MSG

The Knicks fans are known for being some of the most loyal and passionate fan bases in the NBA. They are loud whenever the Knicks play at the Garden and do a fine job in creating a hostile environment for the opposing teams. However, the championship parade may have been the biggest gathering in New York’s history.

Mariska Hargitaa, who was at the parade, compared the parade to the atmosphere inside the Garden.

I don’t think there is any comparison. I’ve never in my life seen anything like this. I’ve burst into tears, like, ten times! It’s just so beautiful. It’s insanity. It’s magnificent.

Mariska Hargitay at the championship parade

The Knicks fans are going to celebrate this title for a long time now. It has been a long time coming, and they have the whole offseason to celebrate. After a few chaotic and unfortunate incidents during the NBA Finals, it is good that no violence broke out during the parade on Thursday.

Jalen Brunson sends a strong message to his critics

After losing to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference Finals last year, many doubted if Jalen Brunson is the right man to lead the Knicks to a championship. They saw Brunson’s size as a huge disadvantage and a liability during the playoffs. However, Brunson answered the call by winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and the Finals MVP.

Jalen Brunson hoists his Finals MVP trophy
Jalen Brunson hoists his Finals MVP trophy (Image via Fox News Sports/X)

While speaking to the fans, Brunson had a message for all his critics.

There are a lot of people who have a lot of opinions, but when you prove them wrong, you don’t have to say shit to them. Nah. They don’t deserve it. Thank you.

Jalen Brunson at championship parade

The Knicks, led by Brunson, had a historic postseason run. They went 16-3 in the playoffs this year and lost just one game after the first round. While Brunson did not say much to his critics, he has shown the NBA world that he deserves his flowers after his impressive performances.

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