\n\tJalen Brunson is staking his claim for the King of New York. Brunson has led the New York Knicks back to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years, after NYK dismantled the heavily favored Boston Celtics in six games.<\/p>\n
\n\tWith the Indiana Pacers on deck, Brunson took to Instagram <\/a>on Monday (May 19) and shouted out Nas\u2019<\/a> classic debut album with his caption. \u201cIllmatic Track 2,\u201d the point guard wrote. <\/p>\n \n\tAnd that track, of course, is the DJ Premier-produced \u201cN.Y. State of Mind,\u201d as Brunson is all in on the NYC love affair between the Big Apple fans and their Knicks.<\/p>\n \n\tNew York rappers Bas<\/a>, Marlon Craft and Kocky Ka flooded JB\u2019s comments section, hailing the star\u2019s hoops greatness.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cTHANK YOU JALEN BRUNSON FOR SAVING MY LIFE,\u201d one fan chimed in. <\/p>\n \n\tNas, who\u2019s a longtime Knicks fan, has yet to respond to Brunson, but maybe the legendary Queensbridge legend will join the star-studded cast on celebrity row at Madison Square Garden<\/a> this week when the Knicks and Pacers tip off.<\/p>\n \n\tIllmatic arrived in April 1994 \u2014 the Knicks played in the NBA Finals that June \u2014 and Billboard crowned Nas\u2019 magnum opus as the greatest rap album of all time<\/a> 30 years after its release.<\/p>\n \n\tPerhaps the World\u2019s Most Famous Arena\u2019s music director will add \u201cN.Y. State of Mind\u201d to the arena playlist for the Eastern Conference Finals. <\/p>\n \n\tBrunson and the Knicks are seeking the franchise\u2019s first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, and Game 1 against the Pacers is set for Wednesday night at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.<\/p>\n \t\t\t