All Knicks

Knicks' Jalen Brunson Entering Icon Status

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson is one of the best players in franchise history.

Jeremy Brener

Nov 20, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates after making a three pointer during the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Nov 20, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) celebrates after making a three pointer during the first quarter against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
In this story:

The New York Knicks have yet to even make an Eastern Conference Finals with the current iteration of the team, but Jalen Brunson is being celebrated like he has already won multiple championships.

Brunson, 28, has completely transformed the Knicks from where they were before he signed with them in free agency, and the fit has been pretty close to perfect up until this point.

"The Knicks appointed Brunson team captain this offseason, which feels like more than just a ceremonial title, considering the way that—in just two seasons—he’s managed to cement himself as a franchise icon," Rob Mahoney of the Ringer writes. "It’s a perfect match. So perfect, in fact, that the Knicks have systematically loaded the roster with Brunson’s friends and college teammates, completing the title-validated picture from his Wildcats years. And why wouldn’t you? Brunson is a model franchise player, and he’s just getting started."

Ask Brunson though, and he'll tell you that his run with the Knicks has not been perfect. He still has goals in need of accomplishment, and with his sacrificial contract that he signed over the summer, Brunson-led teams will always have a chance to compete in New York. What he did with the extension was essentially widen the Knicks' contention window as the team will be able to have flexibility in signing complementary players in order to win.

It's definitely not an approach that is seen across the league nowadays as the contracts get bigger and bigger, but Brunson had the best interest of the organization and fans, and for that, the city of New York will always shower him with love.

All that Brunson needs is that title sometime in the next few years, and he may go down as the greatest Knicks player of all-time.

Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

Published
Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

Home/News