He subbed in just in the Knick of time.<\/p>\n
Knicks superfan Rachel Kim, known for pampering her Jalen Brunson doll and bringing the team good luck with \u201creverse voodoo,\u201d brought the plushie back for the playoffs.<\/p>\n
And ever since his return to social media, the team has won three straight games, advancing to the semifinals.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt this point, I\u2019m like, \u2018Is it me?’\u201d Kim told The Post, a day after the Knicks clinched Round 1 of the Eastern Conference first-round playoffs by crushing the Hawks, 140-89.<\/p>\n
Before Thursday\u2019s Game 6 blowout, she posted a clip icing and rotating \u201cLil Jalen\u2019s\u201d ankles, massaging and icing his hands \u2014 and even spraying a hydrating and calming mist on his face.<\/p>\n
He is also sporting a new good luck charm \u2014 hot dog barrettes \u2014 gifted by a NYC artist<\/a> and fellow Knicks fan.<\/p>\n After the Knicks won the game \u2014 the largest playoff winning margin in the franchise\u2019s history and the largest halftime lead in NBA playoff history \u2014 fans took to Kim\u2019s comment section to thank her, with one saying, \u201cThis is the only logical explanation for tonight\u2019s game.\u201d<\/p>\n The Manhattan nurse and Villanova alum first reintroduced \u201cLil\u2019 Jalen\u201d last Saturday night for Game 4 against the Hawks \u2014 at the insistence of her husband \u2014 after the Knicks had dropped Games 2 and 3.<\/p>\n \u201cI restarted the videos because my husband was like, \u2018Please can you do something, they lost two in a row. He was begging me,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n Manhattan nurse and Villanova alum Rachel Kim affectionately named the plushie \u201cLil\u2019 Jalen.\u201d Baron Kim<\/p>\n But Kim, who went viral last playoffs season <\/a>for introducing the doll, wasn\u2019t sure she could handle the pressure. <\/p>\n \u201cI told him, \u2018I don\u2019t know if I can do it again this time because it was a long process since they made it so far last year.\u2019 And if I would forget to film something, I would be so stressed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n But Kim made a game-time decision.<\/p>\n Lil\u2019 Jalen got some TLC during his return to social media for Game 4. Rachel Kim\/ Instagram<\/p>\n During the second quarter of Game 4 on April 25, she placed cucumbers on the doll\u2019s eyes and iced his ankles, mindful of his past strains.<\/p>\n \u201cJalen wasn\u2019t playing that well at first, but once I posted, he got 39 points,\u201d she said of the Instagram<\/a> and TikTok<\/a> clips.<\/p>\n \u201cMy husband said, \u2018You posted at the perfect time. Now Jalen is going off!’\u201d<\/p>\n Kim game him an ice bath for Game 5. Rachel Kim\/ Instagram<\/p>\n Then for Game 5 on Tuesday, she placed Lil\u2019 Jalen in a mini ice bath<\/a> \u2014 and the team won again. <\/p>\n On Friday, after the Game 6 blowout, Kim posted a video<\/a> saying, \u201cI think I might actually be doing voodoo so um I don\u2019t know, can the Knicks pay me?\u201d <\/p>\n Fans agreed \u2014 tagging the Knicks and commenting with things like, \u201cPay my girl!\u201d<\/p>\n