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Eight years ago, Peoria attorney predicted NBA success for Knicks star

PEORIA — Mitch Gilfillan called his shot back in 2018, and Jalen Brunson made sure it was good.

Gilfillan, a Peoria attorney well-respected for his NIL expertise in today's college sports era, showed some talent evaluation skills as well in a social media post eight years ago.

He predicted the major starring role Brunson has taken on for the New York Knicks in their run to the 2026 NBA Finals.

"Toronto Raptors Guard, Fred VanVleet, plays major crunch-time minutes for the best team in the NBA Eastern Conference," Gilfillan wrote in a 2018 post on what is now X. "Jalen Brunson will do the same thing. How a NBA front office does not draft him in the lottery borders management malpractice."

The NBA didn't listen. Brunson was chosen in the second round, 33rd overall.

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) drives the ball past Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) in the first quarter during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2026 NBA playoffs at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026.

Brunson wiped out the Cleveland Cavaliers and exposed veteran guard James Harden in an Eastern Conference Finals series sweep. So he is indeed playing crunch-time minutes for the best team in the Eastern Conference.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Peoria attorney predicted greatness of Knicks star when NBA GMs missed it

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