Johnny Jackson, after playing his senior season while going through chemotherapy, received a surprise invitation to Madison Square Garden from Knicks star Jalen Brunson.

Bryant twice scored 100 fourth-quarter points in his first 10 playoff games, back in 2001 and 2003, and then added a 99-point run to open the 2008 playoffs. Stephen Curry likewise scored 99 in the first 10 games of the 2023 playoffs, but Brunson's fourth-quarter scoring pace has moved him past those two legends.

Jalen Brunson and wife Ali Marks have been together since high school, celebrating milestones from prom to marriage and family moments

It’s often said the card market values hype more than performance — this is why sales of players such as Jason Dominguez and Paul Skenes have blown away those of Hall of Famers. But the hype train might cut both ways. Not only is it more valuable than the output on the field or court, but it’s actually a prerequisite.

Hard work pays off. Just ask Jalen Brunson. The son of an ex NBA player who now serves as his assistant coach, the barely 6ft 1in Brunson has risen from second-round pick to unquestioned leader