BOSTON — It’s easy to watch Jalen Brunson with the ball in his hands late in the game, in the moments that have earned him the NBA Clutch Player of the Year Award, and assume it is some magical quality, something that has appeared out of nowhere.

Jalen Brunson promptly did what he does best and drew a foul, then subsequently drilled both free throws to give the Knicks a 91-90 lead with 12.7 seconds left.

When Jalen Brunson takes the court with the New York Knicks, coach Tom Thibodeau looks beyond his starting point guard. He sees a player forged through years of tutelage from his father, Rick Brunson,