Can the Knicks Win with Brunson as Their Best Player?

There’s an ongoing debate surrounding the New York Knicks and whether they can clinch a championship with Jalen Brunson, a smaller guard, leading the team. It’s a tricky situation.

“It’s challenging,” said Tim Legler, a former NBA player and ESPN analyst. “Even if we look past the ‘unathletic’ label and focus on his shooting ability for his size, history has shown that fewer teams have succeeded with a smaller guard as their primary player.” He referenced Isiah Thomas, whose scoring consistency provided a balanced attack for the Pistons during championship seasons.

During the Knicks’ recent games, Brunson’s shooting volume has been noticeably higher. He took over six more shots per game than his closest teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns. In contrast, during the Pistons’ championship runs in the late ’80s, Thomas’s shot attempts were just slightly above those of his teammates.

Interestingly, on the 2004 championship Pistons team, Chauncey Billups wasn’t even the lead scorer—that honor belonged to Richard Hamilton.

The most recent success of a small guard as a leading scorer in a championship context would be Stephen Curry. However, teams with similar talents, like the reigning champions, often feature taller guards such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who stands at 6-foot-6.

On defense, Oklahoma City has been impressive, something the Knicks are still working on. “It’s not straightforward,” said Stan Van Gundy, a longtime NBA coach. “Playing as a smaller guard in today’s environment presents unique challenges. Curry has shown it’s possible to thrive, but it’s not a walk in the park.” He noted how Curry has significantly improved defensively, helping to counter expectations about his size.

Brunson’s efficiency stands out. Despite being smaller, he has shot nearly 48 percent from the field and around 40 percent from three-point range—marks that are quite rare for players of his height.

In the past decade, championship squads have featured giants like LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo as their primary players, making it even harder for Brunson’s situation to feel promising. Remarks from analysts, like former ESPN figure Becky Hammon calling Brunson “too small” to be the number one player for a championship team, also linger.

Since those early comments, the Knicks have surrounded Brunson with more talent; however, they haven’t necessarily sought out a superstar like Antetokounmpo to help ease his role as the leading scorer. “It’s a balancing act,” Legler observed. “Most players his size don’t maintain that level of efficiency.” While Brunson continues to impress, the larger context of NBA history still casts a shadow over his journey.