Jalen Brunson has been an All-Star, led the New York Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals, and secured a four-year extension.
But even now, the 28-year-old says one thing still drives him more than anything else, chasing the championship dream he had as a kid.
“All of my goals are basically team-based. That hasn’t changed. So, it’s about obviously winning — wanting to win a championship,” Brunson said speaking on his Roommates Show podcast. “That hasn’t changed. But I feel like success is subjective to what you want. People think you make a lot of money. That’s a successful career. It can be to some people, but obviously, others may be able to win. It varies from person to person, but I think, obviously, going through a journey and trying to perfect who you are as a basketball player, and then do whatever you can to try to win a championship.
“My definition of success has not changed. Honestly, I don’t know why I just babbled. It hasn’t changed. You win or you don’t succeed. Plain and simple.”
The Knicks have doubled down on their core, re-signing Brunson, extending Mikal Bridges, and swinging a blockbuster deal for Karl-Anthony Towns. After falling just short of the NBA Finals last spring, New York enters 2025-26 as a legitimate title threat.
Brunson’s teammate Josh Hart echoed the same mindset when asked if his definition of success had shifted over time.
“I don’t think mine has changed. I think the ultimate goal hasn’t changed,” Hart said. “I think there are certain parts of success that I would say probably changed a little bit. Like when I had kids and those sorts of things. But I think the main goal is always to win a chip. I don’t think that’s ever going to really change. But, for me, I will say there have been smaller things along the way that have changed the longer I’ve been in the league, and matured.”
“The main goal is always to win a chip. I don’t think that’s ever really gonna change.”
Jalen Brunson speaks on if his goals have ever changed since he was a kid 🤔
(via @Roommates__Show)
pic.twitter.com/pTuf2ypVia— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 25, 2025
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