Jalen Brunson underlined his "MVP" credentials after helping the New York Knicks reach the NBA Cup final, according to coach Mike Brown.

The point guard scored 40 points and eight assists as the Knicks prevailed 132-120 at T-Mobile Arena, to set up a showdown with the San Antonio Spurs in Tuesday's showpiece.

Brunson, who made 16 of 27 shots, tallied at least 30 points for a fourth successive game, with MVP chants echoing around the New York fans.

The likes of Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are among the favourites to scoop this year's accolade, but Brown insists Brunson also deserves to be in contention.

"When you have an MVP of the league candidate in Jalen Brunson - 16-for-27, 40 points - he makes the game easier for everybody," the coach said. "That's what MVPs are supposed to do, and he definitely did that tonight.

"It's beautiful to be able to see him do what he's more than capable of doing on a national stage like this in an environment like this. Hopefully, the media and fans out there can continue talking about him as an MVP of this league, because that's exactly what he is.

40 BALL FOR CAPpic.twitter.com/eD1Omi46gU

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2025

"There's no campaign speech. I'm just telling the truth, and he has not got enough credit. Somebody brings up conversations about MVP, and you see a lot of other great candidates that are well-deserving, but I don't ever hear Jalen's name.

"When you're first or second in either conference, and you're putting up the numbers that he's putting up, his name's got to be one of the first names coming out of somebody's mouth."

Brunson is averaging 28.3 points and 6.3 assists per game and, at six-foot-two, would be the fourth player at that height to win the MVP award, after Allen Iverson (2001), Steve Nash (2005-06) and Stephen Curry (2015-16).

However, while grateful for the suggestion of him landing the award, the 29-year-old was quick to downplay it.

"No, I don't read into that stuff," he said. "[It] just shows the trust and the faith that [the coach] has in me, and I'm very thankful of our relationship over these past couple months.

"It's only going to continue to get better. Our communication has been great. It's a growing experience, a learning experience, but I'm really thankful for our relationship."