SAN ANTONIO — Walt Frazier figured Jalen Brunson could be a solid Knick, but nothing like this.

“I thought when we acquired him if he averaged 20 points and six assists it would be good,” the Knicks great recalled when Brunson initially signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2022. “I thought like other people, in a playoff scenario where you get guys 6-[foot]-6 and 6-7 on him, he would have trouble scoring. But he found a way, against all these guys.”

He certainly did.

Saturday night, Brunson elevated himself into rarefied air, leading the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years. He poured in 45 points in a 94-90 clincher over the Spurs at Frost Bank Arena. The point total is the most to close out the NBA Finals on the road since Michael Jordan scored 45 points against the Jazz in 1998.