Doncic and Brunson Share a Moment After Knicks Victory

As Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson exited the Garden Court on Sunday, Doncic had a playful farewell for his former teammate. Following the Knicks’ 112-100 win over the Lakers, Doncic made a lighthearted gesture, raising his middle finger as Brunson approached after the game.

It looked like a joke to those watching, and Brunson seemed to laugh as he went over. Their connection goes back to 2018, when Brunson was picked 33rd overall in the second round, while Doncic was taken third by the Hawks and later traded to Dallas.

Brunson played for the Mavericks for four seasons before deciding to join the Knicks, where he has become a leading player and captain.

Doncic remained a key player for Dallas during those years before being traded to the Lakers last season—a move that didn’t pan out well for the Mavericks and eventually led to the firing of their general manager, Nico Harrison.

In a postgame interview, Brunson reflected on seeing Doncic in a Lakers uniform, saying, “It’s definitely weird. I think we all expected him to be in Dallas for a long time. But yeah, now he’s with the Lakers, playing great and just doing his thing.”

During their matchup, Doncic scored 30 points, maintaining an impressive average of 33.7 points per game, a pace that could earn him an MVP award. Meanwhile, Brunson had a tougher night, hitting only 4 of 15 shots but contributing with 13 assists that helped his teammates shine.

This victory marked the Knicks’ sixth consecutive win, while the Lakers are now struggling, having lost two of their last three games as they prepare to face the powerful Nets next.