Knicks Star Named Top 3 PG
The New York Knicks are excited to have Jalen Brunson on the roster.
When they signed him to a four-year contract in the summer of 2022, they never anticipated he would turn into one of the best players in the league. And it's safe to say halfway into the deal that the Knicks have gotten more than what they bargained for.
HoopsHype writer Frank Urbina ranked Brunson as the third-best point guard in the NBA behind Dallas Mavericks legend Luka Doncic and Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
"Jalen Brunson fully dispelled the notion that he, as a small guy, can’t be the leader of a playoff juggernaut by leading the New York Knicks to the second round of the postseason while putting up huge numbers," Urbina writes. "In the playoffs, Brunson averaged 32.4 points on 44.4 percent shooting to go with 7.5 assists over 13 games before New York ultimately fell in seven games vs. the Indiana Pacers in Round 2."
Philadelphia 76ers phenom Tyrese Maxey and Golden State Warriors icon Stephen Curry rounded out the top five in the ranking.
Brunson was unable to get the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000, but his efforts should still be commended. He had six 40-point games in the playoffs, tying a franchise record.
Brunson has the potential to reach and smash many more records coming up, especially with him looking to possibly sign another extension this summer. The contract would be for four years and worth $156 million, which is about $52 million more than the deal he signed in 2022.
While signing OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein are the top priorities for the Knicks this summer, bringing Brunson back for an extension should be on New York's radar. By signing him to a new deal, the Knicks solidify that they will have Brunson throughout his entire prime, keeping the team's championship window open for the next four years.
If he can continue along this trajectory over the course of his new projected deal, the chances that the Knicks will win a title will improve.
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.