Do You Believe?
Steve Maloney
I’m still riding high with the New York Knicks winning the NBA championship. It was truly an exciting year to be a Knicks fan. Everything about the team has been impressive. I especially admire Jalen Brunson for his leadership, determination, and unwavering commitment to helping both himself and his team succeed.
Belief has become a defining theme of Brunson’s leadership and the Knicks’ 2026 playoff run. After their 107–106 dramatic win over the Spurs, Brunson was asked how the team pulled off that comeback. His one-word response was simple, but powerful: “Believe.”
He explained that the comeback wasn’t the result of one defining play, but of believing in one another, trusting the process, and staying committed to the game plan through a steady, incremental effort. That mindset has become the foundation of the Knicks’ identity and a powerful reminder that success often starts with belief.
Brunson’s mindset reflects a commitment to controlling his own inner world, trusting the process, and refusing to let doubters define his reality. I love this about him. So many have said he is undersized, and the Knicks could never win the title with the best player on the team being the point guard. He’s managed to turn that skepticism into a legacy.
“I just wanted to prove that this is where I was supposed to be. No matter what happens, I’m not afraid to fail,” said Brunson. “I expect myself to be the best player I can be. I really believe I can be one of the best who’s ever played. That’s how hard I work. That’s going to be my mindset no matter where I am or what I’m doing.”
While there’s more to life than basketball, there are some great lessons that leaders can take from this. Every organization faces moments when the odds seem stacked against them. Markets shift. Customers’ expectations evolve. Good people leave. Projects fall behind. In those moments, talent and strategy alone aren’t enough. Leaders must create belief.
Belief is one of the greatest gifts a leader can give. When people believe in the mission, they become more resilient. When they believe in each other, they collaborate more effectively. When they believe their work matters, they find the energy to keep moving forward even when success isn’t immediate.
But here’s the important part: belief doesn’t come from motivational speeches. It comes from consistent leadership. It comes from leaders who keep their promises, model the values they expect from others, celebrate progress, and remain steady when circumstances become difficult. Over time, those daily actions create trust, and trust becomes belief.Brunson didn’t simply tell his teammates to believe. He earned the right to ask them to believe because they saw his preparation, his humility, his willingness to sacrifice, and his commitment to the team above himself. That’s the kind of leadership people willingly follow.
As leaders, we should regularly ask ourselves a few important questions:
Do the people I lead believe in where we’re going, or have I assumed they do?
Am I creating confidence or uncertainty through my words and actions?
What am I doing every day to strengthen trust within my team?
Am I helping people see how today’s work contributes to tomorrow’s success?
Am I investing in my own growth with the same commitment I expect from those I lead?
When leaders believe in people before people fully believe in themselves, something powerful happens. Confidence grows. People take ownership. Teams become more united. Obstacles become challenges to solve instead of excuses to quit. That’s when ordinary groups become extraordinary teams.
John Maxwell often says that everything rises and falls on leadership. I would add that leadership rises and falls on belief. Before people follow a vision, they must believe the vision is possible. Before they pursue excellence, they must believe excellence is attainable. Before they achieve something extraordinary, they must first believe they are capable of it.
The Knicks didn’t win a championship because they hoped it would happen. They won because they believed it was possible, committed themselves to the work required, trusted one another, and refused to let outside opinions define their future.
Let’s all step up to the manufacturing moment ahead and believe we’ll be successful in achieving great things in Upstate New York. There will be challenges and obstacles, but our belief, hard work, and strategic execution will enable us to be the leader in manufacturing excellence.
As Brunson said, “To be a winner, you must first believe you are a winner.”
Do you believe?