Knicks fan brings back Jalen Brunson voodoo doll — team goes on to win 3 straight
New York Knicks superfan Rachel Kim has gained attention for reviving her Jalen Brunson voodoo doll, nicknamed 'Lil' Jalen,' during the 2026 NBA playoffs. Since reintroducing the doll on social media, the Knicks have won three consecutive games, advancing to the semifinals. Fans and players alike have acknowledged the quirky tradition, with some crediting it for the team's recent success.
- ▪Rachel Kim, a Manhattan nurse and Villanova alum, brought back her Jalen Brunson plushie 'Lil' Jalen' during the Knicks' playoff series against the Hawks.
- ▪After Kim resumed posting care routines for the doll, the Knicks won three straight games, including a historic 140-89 victory.
- ▪Jalen Brunson and teammate Josh Hart, both fellow Villanova graduates, have acknowledged the doll on their 'Roommates Show' and through social media interactions.
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Sports Entertainment exclusive Reverse the curse: Knicks fan brings back Jalen Brunson voodoo doll — team wins 3 straight By Angela Barbuti Published May 2, 2026, 9:04 a.m. ET He subbed in just in the Knick of time. Knicks superfan Rachel Kim, known for pampering her Jalen Brunson doll and bringing the team good luck with “reverse voodoo,” brought the plushie back for the playoffs. And ever since his return to social media, the team has won three straight games, advancing to the semifinals. “At this point, I’m like, ‘Is it me?'” 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.
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