HR0978 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0978 LRB104 22347 ECR 38790 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Jalen Brunson on being awarded the Bill Russell Trophy as the 2026 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) after leading the New York Knicks to the team's first NBA championship since 1973; and

WHEREAS, Jalen Brunson attended Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, where he became one of the most decorated players in Illinois high school basketball history, earning the Gatorade Illinois Player of the Year award in each of his final two seasons, being named Illinois Mr. Basketball as a senior, and earning three Associated Press Boys Basketball All-State Team selections; and

WHEREAS, Jalen Brunson led the Adlai E. Stevenson High School Patriots as a senior to the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Class 4A State Championship in 2015, delivering the program's first-ever state title and cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players in the school's history; and

WHEREAS, Jalen Brunson continued his championship excellence at Villanova University, where he helped the Wildcats win national titles in NCAA men's basketball in both 2016 and 2018; he was also named the National College Player of the Year as a junior in 2018, received the John Wooden Award, the Naismith Award, and the Bob Cousy Award, and earned All-Big East Conference honors three times across his collegiate career; and

WHEREAS, Jalen Brunson was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft before signing with the New York Knicks in 2022, and he quickly became the franchise cornerstone, earning his first NBA All-Star Game selection in 2024 and leading the Knicks on a historic championship run in 2026; and

WHEREAS, In the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, Jalen Brunson delivered one of the most dominant performances in the history of the league's championship series, averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game across five games, with all 11 members of the media voting panel unanimously selecting him as NBA Finals MVP; and

WHEREAS, In Game 5 of the 2026 NBA Finals, Jalen Brunson scored 45 points, including 15 points in the final eight minutes of regulation, leading the Knicks to a 94-90 road victory and to securing the championship, a performance that matched Michael Jordan's record for the most points scored on the road in a title-clinching game; and

WHEREAS, Jalen Brunson's journey from the hardwood of Adlai E. Stevenson High School to an NBA championship embodies the values of dedication, resilience, and excellence that make all Illinoisans proud, and his achievement in winning championships at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels places him in the most elite company in the history of basketball; and

WHEREAS, Jalen Brunson's remarkable career has brought extraordinary pride to the Adlai E. Stevenson High School community and the State of Illinois, and his accomplishments will inspire young athletes across the State for generations to come; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Jalen Brunson on being awarded the Bill Russell Trophy as the 2026 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) and for leading the New York Knicks to the 2026 NBA Championship, and we commend the arc of his championship-winning career, transcending the courts of Adlai E. Stevenson High School and Villanova University to Madison Square Garden; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Jalen Brunson as a symbol of our esteem and respect.