During his debut press conference on September 22, 2022, Jalen Brunson addressed the audience from a podium, clad in a fresh number 11 New York Knick jersey. He expressed, “I am not here to save the day in any manner. My sole desire is to make a meaningful contribution to the team.” This initial statement to Knicks supporters, however, was far from the truth. Unbeknownst to us at the time, Brunson was grossly underestimating himself, a characteristic that aligns perfectly with his humility, one of the qualities that has made him the most significant free-agent acquisition in the history of the franchise. Nevertheless, during that moment, the majority of Knicks fans, the mainstream media, and basketball enthusiasts as a whole concurred with his sentiment. After all, he was a former backup and a second-round draft pick who had showcased moments of brilliance in the 2022 playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks, but had also struggled in the previous postseason against the Clippers.
Another aspect to consider is Brunson’s appearance. Walt “Clyde” Frazier, the greatest point guard and player in Knicks history, not only possessed the skills, but also had the look. With his slender physique, effortlessly cool mutton chops, and smooth style of play, his impact could be felt through the television screen. Brunson, on the other hand, is firmly grounded on the court. He lacks the explosive athleticism and initial burst. His teammate Josh Hart, who has formed a dynamic duo with Brunson since their championship-winning days at Villanova, often playfully mocks Brunson’s disproportionately large head. Many individuals across the NBA landscape agreed that Brunson did not resemble a superstar, let alone a savior. Some criticized the Knicks for investing a hefty four-year, $104 million contract in another player deemed unworthy of such status.
However, in the season and a half that Brunson has been with the team, he has single-handedly maximized the Knicks’ potential, transforming them into a legitimate contender for the first time in 23 years. He has evolved into a savior not only for New York City, but also for Knicks fans worldwide. Additionally, he has achieved something truly remarkable: he is currently the best point guard in the entire NBA. This sentiment was recently expressed by ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins after Brunson received his first All-Star selection and subsequently dropped 40 points against the Pacers. Brunson’s performance in January was historic, with his scoring average of 28.9 points, 7.7 assists, and 61.6% true shooting percentage placing him among an elite group of players including Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Luka Dončić, Trae Young, James Harden, and Damian Lillard. Furthermore, he dominated the league in floaters (59%) and three-pointers (39.7%), leading the Knicks to a remarkable 14-2 record. Among point guards, only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander attacks the rim more frequently than Brunson, although SGA’s three-point shooting percentage stands at a mere 35%. Additionally, Brunson ranks fifth in the NBA for drawing fouls and converting and-1 opportunities, showcasing his exceptional scoring ability across all levels.
Critics may point to Gilgeous-Alexander’s impressive statistics or Steph Curry’s championship rings. However, as talented as SGA is, he has only experienced a single first-round playoff exit, which occurred back in 2020. Curry, on the other hand, has reached the twilight of his prime and has been outperformed by Brunson this season. During last year’s playoffs, Brunson led a team of role players, an injured Julius Randle, and ill-fitting pieces to the second round before succumbing to the Miami Heat, who eventually made it to the NBA Finals. The Heat are renowned for their ability to neutralize opposing stars, as they did with Trae Young in the 2022 playoffs. However, Brunson provided the Knicks with a fighting chance against their formidable Eastern Conference opponent, averaging 31 points, 6.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds in a fiercely contested six-game series. The Heat tried various defenders, including All-Defensive player Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, but none could impede Brunson’s dominance. He effortlessly dismantled the entire team and every defensive scheme thrown his way, all while maintaining a shooting percentage of 50% throughout the series.
Following his breakout season as a first-time starter last year, Brunson is currently posting career-high numbers in all statistical categories: 27.3 points per game, 6.5 assists per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, 6.2 free throw attempts per game, and a 41.3% three-point shooting percentage. Tyrese Haliburton is also a contender for the title of best point guard in the NBA, leading the league with an average of 12 assists per game. However, like Brunson, Haliburton lacks any playoff experience to speak of. Regular season statistics can only provide limited insights. Prior to Brunson’s arrival, Randle and head coach Tom Thibodeau had spent five and four years with the Knicks respectively, only making the playoffs once with a first-round exit. In his first season with the Knicks as “the guy,” Brunson propelled them further in the playoffs than they had been in a decade. Additionally, he leads the NBA in drawing offensive fouls.
In just 48 games, Brunson has already delivered an astounding five performances with 40 or more points and has scored 30 points or more in 19 games. Since Scottie Pippen’s legendary +272 plus-minus rating in November 1996, no player has come close to matching that feat. That is, until Jalen Brunson entered the scene and scorched the NBA in January with an incredible +256 plus-minus rating, etching his name into the annals of history. When Brunson initially stated that he wanted to “contribute to the team,” he was not being dishonest. The Knicks have not had back-to-back top-10 offenses since the advent of advanced NBA statistics in 1996-97, and now, thanks to their superstar guard, they are on the cusp of achieving consecutive top-five finishes.
Unlike Gilgeous-Alexander and Curry, Brunson does not have the luxury of playing alongside a plethora of Lottery picks. The Thunder, for example, have three Lottery picks in their starting lineup, including Josh Giddey (sixth in 2021), Chet Holmgren (second in 2022), and Jalen Williams (twelfth in 2022). The Warriors also boast a trio of Lottery picks in their lineup, with Klay Thompson (seventh in 2011), Andrew Wiggins (first in 2014), and Jonathon Kuminga (seventh in 2021). In contrast, Brunson only has one Lottery pick as his teammate, Julius Randle (seventh in 2014). Yet, Brunson has proven to be more influential in elevating the performance of his teammates compared to his counterparts. Four out of coach Thibodeau’s nine-man rotation consist of second-round picks (Isaiah Hartenstein, Miles McBride, Jericho Sims, Mitchell Robinson), while the rest were selected in the late-first round. Brunson made an immediate impact upon joining the Knicks, whereas Gilgeous-Alexander (his main competitor for the title of best point guard) took five years to achieve a playoff-worthy record. It is undeniably easier to excel when surrounded by a horde of Lottery picks and playing in the smallest market in the NBA.
Moreover, it is even more astonishing that Brunson has achieved all this while facing unprecedented expectations for the Knicks. Gilgeous-Alexander may be performing exceptionally well in the low-pressure environment of Oklahoma City, where their rebuilding phase is nearing its conclusion. Since James Dolan inherited the Knicks from his father, only Amare Stoudamire arrived as a free agent with hopes of becoming “the man” amidst immense pressure. Unfortunately, Stoudamire fell short of expectations. Thus, when Brunson declared that he did not come to the Knicks to be a savior, we believed him. It had been over 50 years since a free agent arrived at the Knicks with a track record of playoff success, with Allan Houston being the last in 1996. Brunson simply wanted to play for individuals he trusted: godfather Leon Rose, father Rick Brunson, and family friend Tom Thibodeau. He sought the opportunity to lead his own team and prove his detractors wrong on a grander stage. Neither he nor we could have predicted that he would become the savior the Knicks have been searching for over the past five decades.