"F*ck no. Steph Curry in the NBA. Dude, are you crazy?" - Draymond Green pushes back on the idea that Jalen Brunson is the best PG in the NBA
While Anthony Edwards is the hottest player in the Western Conference right now, Jalen Brunson might be his equivalent in the East. The son of former NBA guard Rick Brunson has balled out of his mind in the postseason, averaging 35.6 points and 8.5 assists per game to pull the New York Knicks to within two games of the Eastern Conference Finals.
The left-handed All-Star has been playing so well that some observers and experts are asking if he could now be the best point guard in the NBA. After getting wind of such a notion, fiery forward Draymond Green pushed back against the idea, saying there's no way that crown would be on another player's head so long as his teammate, Steph Curry, is playing.
On an incredible run
Playing under the bright lights of the Big Apple carries a lot of expectations born out of the legendary players who have worn the Knicks' uniform and the unforgettable performances they have put forth at Madison Square Garden. So far, Brunson has exceeded them all, carrying the Knicks to the second seed despite not having All-Star forward Julius Randle for most of the season due to a shoulder injury.
He's raised his game even further in the NBA Playoffs. With New York head coach Tom Thibodeau playing a short six-man rotation, Brunson has been forced to play 42 minutes per game. In Game 2, despite tweaking his right foot in the first quarter, he played through the injury and came up with one clutch basket after another to repel the Indiana Pacers and go up 2-0 in the East semis.
Despite the impressive performances, Draymond isn't budging on his stance that the 'Chef' remains the best PG in the league.
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"Steph Curry (still) in the NBA, dude. Are you crazy? What? Come on, next, that's ridiculous. Steph Curry is still in the NBA, still great. Come on, stop it," Green said when asked if Brunson had already surpassed Steph as the NBA's premier guard.
It's easy to see why the defensive ace would believe such a thing. After all, Curry continues to play at an elite level and is coming off a season where he averaged 26.4 points and 5.1 assists per outing. Despite being 36, the 'Baby-Faced Assassin' remains one of the most difficult match-ups in the NBA with his out-of-this-world shooting and clutch shotmaking.
Flavor of the month
Don't get it twisted; Brunson is a fine player who's proven capable of carrying the storied Knicks franchise on his broad shoulders. However, people quickly forget that he's playing in only his second season in New York, which means it's probably premature for people like former Knicks bruiser Charles Oakley to crown him the greatest Knick of all time.
Former Knicks guard Mark Jackson believes someone else deserves that title, and that is NY icon Patrick Ewing.
"We love Oak… but Oak made Jalen Brunson greatest New York Knicks basketball player since Clyde Frazier. Time out. Are you kidding me? I love you, Oak, but what are we doing? Let me introduce you to the greatest, not just since Clyde Frazier, the greatest New York Knicks basketball player of all time," M-Jax said, referring to Ewing.
Make no mistake, Brunson has made the 2024 NBA Playoffs his coming-out party. However, he must play at this elite level consistently and for a much longer period to earn lofty titles like "greatest Knick of all time." While his performance so far has been impressive and exciting to watch, it's important to recognize the rich history and talent that have graced the Knicks organization over the years.
