In Game 6 vs. the Pistons, Jalen Brunson hit the shot heard ’round the world, stunning a raucous Detroit crowd. He sent home the upstart Pistons with a near buzzer-beating pull-up three with 4.3 seconds left after hitting Ausar Thompson with a filthy between-the-legs crossover. In typical Brunson fashion, he silenced a road arena that had been in his ear nonstop for the entire series. With what’s certainly the most iconic Knicks shot of the 21st century, Brunson has placed his name firmly in the discussion of the greatest players to ever wear the orange and blue. The 33rd overall pick has done nothing but impress in his three seasons in New York, and this latest moment has sparked some interesting discourse about his place among the greats of this storied franchise.
JALEN BRUNSON.
WHAT A SHOT.
WHAT A MOMENT.KNICKS WIN THE SERIES!! https://t.co/ZT6WwTDpZ2 pic.twitter.com/J2pHYE9mHv
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2025
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Why Jalen Brunson is the Greatest Modern-Day Knick
On ESPN’s “Get Up“, Duke legend and former NBA player Jay Williams made a loud statement about Brunson. He claimed that with last night’s game-winner, Brunson is now the greatest player to wear the Knicks uniform.
“I think we are watching the greatest Knick ever to play in that Knick uniform.”
– @RealJayWilliams on Jalen Brunson
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@GetUpESPN )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 2, 2025
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Whether Williams means that Brunson has already surpassed every other Knicks legend or that the captain is the best player to don the orange and blue, and will eventually pass those legends, is unclear. However, one thing is certain: Williams believes that when it’s all said and done, Brunson will be the greatest Knick to ever grace the Garden floor. This statement has sparked outrage in the NBA and especially within the Knicks community, particularly among the older generation of fans, and rightfully so.
Three Players Still Stand Far Above Brunson
While Brunson is already becoming a Knicks legend with his phenomenal three seasons in New York, he still has much work to do to even reach the top three. The Knicks have won two championships in their franchise history (1970 and 1973), featuring two players who are definitively still above Brunson. Walt ‘Clyde’ Frazier (current Knicks broadcaster) is considered the greatest Knick ever. He played ten seasons with the franchise, winning two championships, reaching seven All-Star Games, and earning seven All-Defensive team and six All-NBA team selections. He did all of this with the Knicks.
Willis Reed was also present for those two titles, securing Finals MVP honors in both series. He was a seven-time All-Star, a five-time All-NBA member, and won the 1970 NBA MVP. Both guys are in the Hall of Fame, something Brunson has yet to even approach accomplishing.
Furthermore, Patrick Ewing has done far more for the Knicks than Brunson. He played 15 seasons in NY, racking up 11 All-Star appearances, seven All-NBA selections, and is the franchise leader in nearly every statistical category. Although he never won a championship in Michael Jordan‘s Eastern Conference despite two Finals appearances, Ewing won 16 playoff series with the Knicks. Brunson is at just three, with many years left in his Knicks career.
Brunson Has Surpassed Carmelo Anthony For Best 21st-century Knick
While the Villanova product has work to do to crack the top three, he’s certainly the best Knick of this century. Carmelo Anthony had previously held this honor despite a relatively disappointing tenure at the Mecca. While Melo was an excellent player, his place as the top Knicks player this century says more about the recent struggles of the franchise than it does about his accomplishments there.
Brunson has already won three playoff series to Melo’s one. He’s been a much better postseason performer than Anthony. Brunson’s also created several iconic moments that Melo’s Knicks career lacked. Brunson also has many years left to widen the gap between him and the rest of the field. I don’t blame Carmelo for his lackluster Knicks tenure because of the undermanned rosters he was forced to carry. However, there’s no doubt that Brunson has already done more for the orange and blue in his three campaigns.
Photo credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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