Jalen Brunson is a B+ Player

The "B" in Jalen Brunson might as well stand for B+ player.

Brunson led the New York Knicks to the 2026 NBA Championship, but does winning a title automatically make someone a superstar?

The Knicks defeated a young and inexperienced San Antonio Spurs team that undoubtedly has a bright future ahead of it. While Brunson was the face of New York's championship run, the title was far from a one-man accomplishment.

During his time with the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson was Robin to Luka Dončić's Batman. He proved he could thrive as a secondary star and step up when Dončić was unavailable, but the question remains: Is Brunson truly a championship-level No. 1 option, or is he simply a good No. 1 option surrounded by an outstanding supporting cast?

That supporting cast deserves plenty of credit. Karl-Anthony Towns was arguably the Knicks' most impactful player throughout the postseason, setting the NBA record for the highest single-postseason plus-minus (+258) while making life difficult for Victor Wembanyama on both ends of the floor. OG Anunoby delivered perhaps the defining moment of New York's playoff run with his Game 4 game-winning tip-in. Josh Hart was the team's glue guy, providing hustle, rebounding, and versatility every night.

Mitchell Robinson came through with crucial rebounds and valuable defensive possessions against Wembanyama. Mikal Bridges supplied floor spacing, perimeter defense, and timely shot-making. Jose Alvarado embraced his "Grand Theft Alvarado" nickname by creating havoc defensively and knocking down several clutch three-pointers during the Finals.

Most importantly, the Knicks won because they functioned as a complete team. Their defining moment came in Game 4 of the Finals when they erased a 29-point deficit—the largest comeback in NBA Finals history—to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.

To me, Brunson's role on the 2026 Knicks is similar to the role Chauncey Billups played for the 2004 Detroit Pistons.

Both players won Finals MVP while leading teams that relied heavily on defense, depth, and chemistry rather than overwhelming star power. The difference is that Brunson was a much more offense-oriented player. He averaged 32.6 points per game in the Finals, including a 45-point performance in the championship-clinching Game 5.

Billups, on the other hand, was the ultimate floor general. He controlled the pace, distributed the ball, and anchored elite perimeter defense for one of the greatest defensive teams in NBA history. During the 2004 Finals, Billups averaged 21.0 points and 5.2 assists per game while shooting an incredibly efficient 50.9% from the field and 47.1% from three-point range. He earned the nickname "Mr. Big Shot" for a reason.

So why do I consider Brunson a B+ player rather than an A-tier superstar?

For starters, his physical limitations cannot be ignored. At 6-foot-1, he faces disadvantages against larger opponents. Defensively, he struggles against quicker guards, and his size limits his ability to switch across multiple positions or consistently impact games on that end of the floor.

Offense is Brunson’s strength, but his game can become overly reliant on isolation scoring. At times, he leans into "hero ball," which reduces teammate involvement. A prime example came during the NBA Finals, where he attempted 133 field goals in five games—the most of any player in the series and more than double the total of the next-highest Knicks player. OG Anunoby ranked second on the team with just 61 field-goal attempts.

Because of his size, Brunson also relies heavily on mid-range jumpers and floaters rather than consistently attacking the rim. While he excels at those shots, they are generally less efficient than attempts at the basket and can make his scoring efficiency more volatile.

Another aspect that deserves discussion is how Brunson arrived in New York. The Mavericks offered him a four-year, $55.5 million extension before his breakout season. Brunson's camp reportedly “laughed” at the offer and eventually signed with the Knicks for four years and $104 million during the 2022 offseason. Naturally, questions were raised because his father, Rick Brunson, was already an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau's staff. While there was nothing against the rules, the connection certainly fueled accusations of favoritism and helped create the perception that New York had an inside track to landing him.

None of this is meant to suggest that Brunson isn't an excellent player. He is. He's a multiple-time All-Star, an elite scorer, and now an NBA champion and Finals MVP.

But when I think of true A-tier superstars, I think of players who combine elite production with elite physical tools and the ability to solely elevate a team regardless of circumstance. Brunson checks some of those boxes, but not all of them.

That's why, despite his championship success, Jalen Brunson is still a B+ player.