Jalen Brunson almost gave up the Larry O'Brien trophy to Michael Rainey Jr. at this week's New York Knicks championship parade.
In a video that captured a heartwarming interaction between the pair, Brunson can be seen holding the championship trophy while walking during the parade as he spots Rainey beside him.
Brunson, who see Rainey recording him, smiles, then his lips twist into a shocked look as he notices the expensive AP watch on the Power actor's wrist. It's at that point that Brunson jokingly proposed a trade, offering the Knicks championship-winning trophy for the watch on Rainey's wrist.
Rainey, meanwhile, makes it clear in the clip that he'll give up the watch to Brunson — seemingly without even trading. "You can have this shit," the actor can be heard saying. "On God, you can have this shit. I’m taking it off my wrist right now."
Rainey then wrapped up the interaction by chanting MVP to Brunson, who was declared the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals for the series against the San Antonio Spurs, in which the Knicks won 4-1 and took home the championship.
Brunson's championship parade was very eventful, and even included a moment that saw him end a feud that Knicks fans had with Elmo.
The beef started at the beginning of the NBA Finals, when the Sesame Street character, who’s historically been associated with New York, wished both teams good luck on social media — immediately angering Knicks fans who wanted the puppet to pick their side. Fans escalated the beef by dissing Elmo and even putting his head on a spike.
That changed at the championship parade when Brunson held up an Elmo plushie and gave it a kiss, symbolizing the end of the brief feud.
After the Knicks’ championship parade, most of the team’s members celebrated their Finals win at club Chez Margaux, according to Page Six. The exclusive bash featured players like Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, and Mykal Bridges as well as celebrities like Teyana Taylor, Cardi B, and Leon Bridges.
