Legendary broadcaster Bob Costas is hearing the chatter about Jalen Brunson potentially becoming the greatest New York Knick of all time. But he's not signing on to that narrative—even if Brunson leads the team to its first championship in 50 years.
Brunson delivered another classic performance Wednesday night, dropping 30 points in an NBA Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs. He took over the fourth quarter, scoring 13 points in a hostile environment at Frost Bank Center, silencing taunts from Spurs fans with his clutch play.
“Jalen, he was the MVP in the second half. He was huge for us,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “He did what MVP candidates are supposed to do. He carried us home. We put the ball in his hands, and he got it done for us down the stretch.”
With New York just three wins away from a championship, some fans are ready to anoint Brunson as the franchise's greatest player. But Costas isn't having it. He argues that even a ring won't put Brunson ahead of Patrick Ewing, Walt “Clyde” Frazier, and Willis Reed.
“He’s not as credentialed as others (Frazier, Reed, Ewing),” Costas said. “But he’s still a great player and he’s the most important player for a team that has been on a great run. That ought to be enough.”
Brunson has already cemented himself as a Knicks legend. Since signing with New York, the team has reached at least the Eastern Conference semifinals every year. In the postseason, he's averaged 29.2 points per game, elevating his game when it matters most.
When asked about being the face of the Knicks' resurgence, Brunson deflected the praise. “It’s something I haven’t really put into perspective and thought about because we’re still writing our story,” he said.
If Brunson leads the Knicks to their first title since 1973, some fans will gladly crown him the King of New York. But Costas isn't ready to rewrite history just yet. Game 2 of the NBA Finals is set for Friday at 8:30 p.m. ET.
