On Friday night, Jalen Brunson scored a career-high 50 points in a win against the Phoenix Suns. Brunson was extremely impressive -- he didn’t miss a shot in the second half -- gaining praise from the basketball community. Kevin Durant noted that Brunson was on his way to the Hall of Fame if he keeps up his spectacular play. Now, we know the NBA Hall of Fame doesn’t have the same strict standards like other sports but that’s neither here nor there. The top stars in the game respect Brunson … and they should. He’s well on his way to another All-NBA caliber season (he was at that level last year but didn’t get the award) and has the Knicks jockeying for playoff position … but there’s more here. Brunson isn’t just pacing himself to a Hall of Fame career … he’s starting to make his push as The Greatest Knick Since Patrick Ewing and The Closest Player We’ve Seen to Steph Curry. Hear me out (data throughout courtesy of StatMuse and Basketball Reference):
The Greatest Knick Since Patrick Ewing?
As of today, Carmelo Anthony is probably the greatest Knick since Patrick Ewing (maybe some would say Allan Houston but think Melo is the consensus) … but Brunson isn’t that far behind. Yes, Melo is a top 75 player all-time and one of the greatest scoring talents we’ve ever seen. Yes, Melo was one of the young faces of the NBA for several years along with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade. Yes, Melo’s 2012-2013 season was fantastic, averaging 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists while leading the Knicks to the second-seed and finishing third in MVP voting. However, despite all of the talent and accolades, the Knicks won only one playoff series during Melo’s tenure and missed the playoffs the last four years.
In his first season with the Knicks, Brunson led the team to a round one victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers, outdueling Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in five games. Even though the Knicks would lose to the Miami Heat in the next round, Brunson was a problem for the Eastern Conference Champions, averaging 31 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists. For the 2023 playoffs, Brunson averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, which last time I checked were superstar numbers. If Brunson can keep up this production and playoff success, he can become the greatest Knick since Patrick Ewing.
The Closest Player We’ve Seen to Steph Curry?
Before diving into this, I’m not saying Jalen Brunson is as good as or will become the next Steph Curry. Universally, Curry is considered a top-15 (or even top-10) player all-time. He is one-of-one. However, there are several similarities between the two. Both are the sons of former NBA players. Both developed significantly over the course of three seasons in college, becoming NCAA legends with deep tournament runs. Both took some time to fully breakout in the NBA, becoming All-NBA caliber players in their mid-20’s (Curry averaged 24 and 30 points in his age 26 and 27 seasons, respectively. Brunson averaged 24 points in his age 26 season and is currently near 26 points at age 27). Lastly, both aren’t the most physically gifted. They don’t have the speed or explosiveness of prime Russell Westbrook or De'Aaron Fox but they’re purposefully athletic -- notably, Curry’s ability to change direction and his insane endurance and Brunson’s ability to create space with his body -- and possess all-time IQ and skill at the point guard position.
Now, we know where Curry stands at his age 35 season … but where will Brunson be at that point in time? Who knows but we do know the following:
He’s been excellent at every level and a winner. Before having some playoff success in the NBA, Brunson won championships in high school and college. On an individual level, he won Mr. Illinois Basketball and Sporting News’ College Player of the Decade.
He’s a competitor who gets better every year. When he was on the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson had to earn his stripes. Obviously, Luka Doncic was/is the franchise player, but the organization had several guards on the depth chart, including Tim Hardaway Jr., Spencer Dinwiddie, Trey Burke, and Frank Ntilikina. Brunson not only battled for his opportunity but when push came to shove, he was the guy the team relied upon against the Utah Jazz in round one of the 2022 playoffs when Luka was out a few games (averaged 28 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists that series). And, Brunson’s output has increased virtually every season he’s been in the league.
Stylistically, Brunson’s game should be sustainable long-term. Like Curry, Brunson’s IQ and skill are off the charts, and he doesn’t rely on freakish athletic ability to produce. Perhaps more akin to Chris Paul, Brunson is also crafty and doesn’t require intense tempo to gain an edge as he can operate in the half-court, which should serve him well going forward.
Should we expect Brunson to win four titles and two MVPs? No, but similar to Curry, Brunson’s pedigree, competitive spirit, and style makes him a safe bet to continue to be a very special player in the league.
Commentaires