Knicks Fans Name Dogs After Team Captain Ahead of Conference Finals

New York Knicks fans are watching the team's Eastern Conference finals games with dogs named after the team's point guard. Bronx resident Josh Oquendo said he named his 2-year-old pit bull after Jalen Brunson because the player has been central to the team's performance.

Oquendo added that the dog's ears perk up when announcers say the player's name during games. Rochester resident Nicole Pereira named her Australian Labradoodle after Brunson during his first season with the Knicks. Pereira said the 3-year-old dog wears a No.

11 jersey on special occasions and watches games from the couch.

Carbonara also has another dog named after a former New York sports captain. Long Island resident Lauren Beckman has a Cavapoo whose full name is Sir Humphrey Brunson. Beckman said her husband was deeply affected by Knicks losses in the 1990s. New Jersey residents Brianna Tarabocchia and Andrew Santonocito named their Petite Goldendoodle after Brunson in January 2025.

Tarabocchia said the dog shows athletic behavior similar to the player when catching objects during games. The couple plans to include the dog in their wedding next year as a ring bearer wearing a tuxedo.