As a native New Yorker, I've been following the Knicks in the NBA Finals and I couldn't stop thinking about how what they did on that court can be applied to real life.
Down 29 and Still Showing Up
The Knicks won the 2026 NBA championship. It had been 53 years since New York last won a championship. And when it finally happened, it didn't come easy. In every single game they won in the Finals, all four of them, they came back from a double-digit deficit. The Spurs outscored them in the first quarter of every game in the series. On paper, the Knicks were losing every time the first buzzer went off.
In Game 4, they were down 29 points in the NBA Finals. The largest comeback in Finals history. Brunson, Anunoby, Towns, Hart just stayed focused and closed the gap. One possession at a time. They won 107 to 106 with 1.2 seconds left.
Then in Game 5, still down at halftime, Brunson drops 45 points and hits a go-ahead floater with 65 seconds left. And they became NBA Champions.
What stood out to me is what Jalen Brunson said in his post-game interview after winning Finals MVP: 'My confidence comes from my work ethic.' Confidence isn't innate. It's built through preparation, and that preparation is what carries you through hard times.
He didn't say it was easy. He said he trusted his work. The years of practicing his skills so when he was down and in a hard situation, he trusted himself to get back on track.
What the Knicks Comeback Has to Do With Your Health Journey
As a dietitian, I work with clients every day who are trying to lose weight, build better eating habits, and create a lifestyle that actually sticks. And the number one thing that derails people isn't a bad meal or a missed workout.
It's the moment they decide the deficit is too big to come back from.
Sound familiar? You had a rough week of eating out. You stress-ate through something hard. You stopped working out and now it's been three weeks and you feel like you've undone everything. And somewhere in there, the thought creeps in: "What's the point. I already blew it."
That's the 29-point deficit talking. And just like the Knicks in game 4.
Getting back on track with healthy eating doesn't require a perfect restart. It requires your next best move.
Why Bouncing Back Gets Easier Every Time You Do It
Here's the thing about bouncing back from a setback. It's not just a mindset. There's real science behind why it gets easier every time you do it.
Every time you recover from a setback, a binge, a skipped week, an off-plan dinner, your brain takes note. This is called self-efficacy. Your brain builds a pattern: "We've been here before. We know how to get out." And the more you practice that comeback, the more automatic it becomes.
The Knicks didn't develop that resilience in Game 4. They built it over an entire season of finding ways back. Every close game, every fourth-quarter push, every moment they could have folded but didn't was going into the bank.
Your health journey works the same way. Every time you choose the next right meal after a rough few days, every time you go for that walk even when it's the last thing you want to do, you are making a deposit. Your brain is building evidence that you are someone who comes back.
This is why working with a dietitian isn't just about meal plans. It's about building the mental framework to stay consistent even when life gets hard.
Trust the Work You've Already Put In
Brunson didn't show up to Game 5 hoping he'd feel ready. He showed up because he had put in the work and he trusted it to carry him when things got hard.
That's the mindset shift I want you to take into your health journey.
You don't need to feel motivated. You don't need the perfect week. You need to trust the work you've already put in and make your next move.
The comeback doesn't start Monday. It starts at the next meal. The next walk. The next choice. You are not behind. You're in the third quarter.
What's your next possession?
If this resonated with you and you're ready to start building that comeback for yourself, I'd love to talk. Book a free discovery call to learn more about how Bettr Full can support your health and weight loss journey. And if this isn't your moment yet, send it to someone who needs to hear it.