Watch Jalen Brunson Stop Josh Hart From Photobombing His Conference Finals MVP Moment
Jalen Brunson was not letting Josh Hart ruin a second trophy moment in six months. Not on his watch.
After the Knicks closed out the Cavaliers on Monday night and Brunson collected his Eastern Conference Finals MVP trophy, a familiar figure started edging into the camera frame. Hart was standing just off to the side with that grin he always has when he is about to do something he is not supposed to do.
Brunson saw him coming. He turned, pointed, and waved Hart out of the shot before the TNT interview even started. Hart threw his hands up in mock surrender, laughed his way out of frame, and the moment immediately went viral.
Why Brunson Was Ready
This is not the first time Hart has tried to crash a Brunson moment. Back in December, after New York won the NBA Cup, Hart photobombed Brunson during his on-court interview. It became a whole thing on social media for a week. The photo of Hart making faces behind Brunson’s head while Brunson tried to answer questions is now part of the Knicks lore.
Brunson took notes. He told reporters back in April that he was going to keep an eye on Hart in the playoffs. He clearly meant it.
The two have been Villanova brothers since they shared a backcourt under Jay Wright in 2017. They won a national title together. They have been roasting each other in group chats for nine years. This is just the next chapter.
Hart Got the Last Laugh Anyway
If you scroll through Hart’s Instagram from Monday night, the man was a content machine. He posted a picture of teammate Jose Alvarado holding the Eastern Conference trophy with the caption “Changed this broke boys life.” He stuck around for every postgame celebration. He gave one of the most quotable interviews of the night when asked about the Villanova trio reaching the Finals together.
“It’s surreal,” Hart said. “But you also expect it. We came here to do this.”
Mikal Bridges, the third Villanova alum on the Knicks, said in a separate interview that he loved Hart’s answer because it summed up the locker room vibe. The Villanova guys believe they belong on this stage.
The Bigger Picture
The Knicks are heading to their first NBA Finals since 1999. Brunson, Hart, Bridges, and Alvarado are all going to be on the floor for it. The Knicks have not won a title since 1973, when Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe ran the show.
Brunson averaged 31 points and 8 assists in the conference finals while shooting 51% from the floor. He was the obvious MVP. Hart played his usual role of doing everything on the box score that doesn’t show up on the box score.
That is the Knicks in 2026. They have the leader, the agitator, the role players who know their jobs, and a head coach who has finally figured out how to use them all. They are four wins away from doing something this franchise has not done in 53 years.
And if Brunson hoists the Larry O’Brien trophy in three weeks, Hart will be standing right next to him. Probably making a face. Probably trying to get into the shot.
Brunson will probably stop him again. That is just how this works now.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
