Jalen Brunson has provided the Knicks with something they’ve been missing: optimism.

In order to fully grasp the impact of Jalen Brunson’s resurgence for the New York Knicks, who clinched a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night to advance to the NBA playoffs’ quarterfinals, it’s essential to delve into the team’s context and point guard history. Following team owner James Dolan inheriting the Knicks from his Cablevision-founding father in the late 1990s, the team spiraled into disarray and decline. The glaring absence of a competent point guard mirrored the overall lack of direction both on and off the court, exacerbating the team’s dysfunction. This absence of a true floor general hindered their ability to rally the disparate elements of the team.

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Until Brunson’s arrival, everything changed. The 27-year-old isn’t just elevating the Knicks to contender status; he’s realizing the aspirations of generations of Knicks fans who have endured a history of losses or forgotten the taste of victory. Born to Rick Brunson, the former Knicks third-string point guard and protege of John Chaney, known for his gritty, defensive style during a career marked by perseverance, Jalen embodies his father’s tenacious spirit while carrying the weight of his father’s near-miss with the 1999 finals squad.

As a youngster, Jalen grew up around the Knicks, shadowing his father during practices, witnessing firsthand the coaching prowess of Tom Thibodeau, who served as an assistant to Jeff Van Gundy at the time. Leon Rose, Rick’s agent, was also a fixture in those days. Fast forward to the present, Rose is now the president of the Knicks, Thibodeau holds the reins as head coach, and Jalen Brunson stands as the team’s star player. This trio finds themselves uniquely positioned to carry on the legacy of the 1999 team, characterized by camaraderie and resilience under the leadership of a no-nonsense head coach.

Brunson benefits from the support of three key figures – his father, Rose, and Thibodeau – each offering distinct insights into the Knicks’ recent setbacks and, looking further back, their triumphs. Since 1999, no Knicks player has enjoyed such a wealth of historical and contextual understanding. Thibodeau, known for his demanding coaching style, has also brought structure to a franchise prone to chaos. Rose, in contrast to previous front-office executives under Dolan, prioritized fit over past glory, selecting Brunson based on his suitability for the team. Rick, Rose’s inaugural client, shares an unparalleled rapport with him, leading Rose to recognize Jalen’s ability to address the team’s most glaring deficiencies, shaped by Rick’s mentorship from an early age.

Even Dolan, despite his unpopularity, deserves recognition for abstaining from interference, allowing the team to thrive. Additionally, the oversight of Mark Cuban and Nico Harrison at Brunson’s former team, Dallas, played a role, repeating the mistake of letting a key player leave in free agency. The combination of fortunate circumstances for the Knicks and questionable decision-making by the Mavericks facilitated Brunson’s arrival in New York.

Brunson embodies the ideal Knicks fan fantasy that was once attached to Stephon Marbury, who departed from New York in 2009 amidst controversy. He represents a homegrown talent from the tri-state area, fulfilling the dreams of many Knicks supporters by returning to elevate the team. Fortunately for New Yorkers, Brunson has surpassed expectations, outshining Marbury, the former Coney Island prodigy. Marbury’s recent return to Madison Square Garden, now as Brunson’s staunchest supporter, adds an extra layer of satisfaction to his Knicks narrative.

As a hometown hero, Brunson embraces a playing style that contrasts with the modern guard archetype. He prioritizes footwork, basketball intelligence, and strategic scoring over flashy athleticism, showcasing a level of skill that rivals the best guards in the NBA. With the unfortunate loss of his teammate and fellow All-Star Julius Randle for the season, Brunson has assumed an even greater offensive burden while also elevating his playmaking to benefit his teammates.

He’s already etched his name in the franchise’s playoff record books, scoring an impressive 47 points in Game 4 to secure a crucial win over the 76ers and propel New York to a commanding 3-1 series lead. In just his first year with the Knicks, he led the team to the second round of the playoffs, and now, in his second year, he’s aiming for a finals appearance. Throughout this journey, he’s faced the challenge of playing without Randle, who was sidelined for most of the regular season and all of the postseason. Despite this setback, Brunson and the Knicks’ nine-man rotation, devoid of a single lottery pick, have defied expectations, showcasing the best basketball of their careers, fueled by Brunson’s meteoric rise to stardom.

Even though he’s only in his second season in New York, Brunson’s impact feels timeless, as if he’s been part of the Knicks’ fabric for decades. His presence on the Madison Square Garden court feels like a fixture, reminiscent of iconic moments like Larry Johnson’s four-point play and Allan Houston’s game-winning floater. It evokes memories of Kristaps Porzingis before his departure and the anticipation preceding Adrian Wojnarowski’s tweet announcing Kevin Durant’s signing with the Brooklyn Nets. In essence, watching Brunson in a Knicks jersey evokes a sense of hope.

While it’s easy to get swept up in the lore of the Knicks, every legend has its origins. Thanks to the internet, Brunson’s journey is immortalized for posterity. It’s captured in a grainy video from the early 2000s, depicting Rick’s transition from player to coach as he guides his son through basketball drills. In those moments, a young Jalen, visibly fatigued yet determined, embodies the values of consistency and legitimacy instilled by his father. Rick’s repeated admonitions to “be legit” underscore the importance of integrity in every action.

As the video concludes, Jalen demonstrates his potential with a focused dribble, a squared stance, and a decisive follow-through on his shot. Even then, the glimpse of the man he would become is evident. In that brief minute, Knicks fans glimpse the future they’ve long awaited, finally able to exhale after two decades of anticipation.