Jalen Brunson, the New York Knicks captain and NBA Finals MVP, reflected on maintaining composure during a contentious playoff moment in an appearance on ABC’s “The View” following the Knicks’ Game 5 victory that secured their first title since 1973.

Brunson addressed an incident in Game 3 when San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama shoved him to the ground. Despite the provocation, Brunson said he refrained from retaliation, attributing his restraint to the values instilled by his parents. “I wanted to [retaliate], but at the same time, I knew that being a leader, understanding the moment, understanding the situation, you have to keep your composure,” he explained. “No matter when it’s being too high or being too low, you gotta stay even-keeled.”

The shove by Wembanyama did not result in a foul call, and the Spurs forward avoided a flagrant foul designation on that play. Wembanyama had previously accumulated two flagrant foul points during the playoffs, including one for elbowing Minnesota Timberwolves’ Naz Reid. Had he been assessed a flagrant foul for the shove, Wembanyama would have been at risk of suspension due to reaching the flagrant foul point limit.

The officiating during the NBA Finals was a point of contention throughout the series. In Game 1, Brunson was seen vocally disputing calls by referee Scott Foster following a no-call after heavy contact by Spurs defenders. These frustrations highlight the broader scrutiny of officiating decisions during the tightly contested series.

Brunson credited his father, Rick Brunson—formerly an NBA player and now an assistant coach with the Knicks—for teaching him the importance of emotional control. The father and son shared the championship celebration following the decisive Game 5 victory.

In a postgame interview with ESPN’s Lisa Salters, Brunson showed visible emotion when asked about winning the championship alongside his father. His initial hesitation and repeated acknowledgment, “You can see it,” underscored the personal significance of the moment.