Jalen Brunson gave Knicks fans a season to remember, guiding New York to its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since the year 2000. Though their run ended in six games against the Pacers, Brunson’s performance throughout the playoffs turned plenty of heads.
Still, some wonder—can he truly be that guy for a championship team?
NFL veteran and six-time Pro Bowler LeSean McCoy thinks so. In a recent appearance on FS1, McCoy shared a bold take: Brunson might actually have an edge over Stephen Curry in one key area.
“This might not be a popular opinion—I love Steph—but in a one-on-one setting, I think Brunson scores better,” McCoy said. “Give him the ball and let him go to work. That’s his strength. Steph’s obviously the better player overall, but Brunson’s isolation game is underrated.”
He went on to suggest that the Warriors have long built around Curry’s strengths and shielded his weaknesses—something Brunson hasn’t enjoyed in New York.
With the Knicks likely to shake things up this offseason, the focus will be on building a roster that can push even further next year. But for all of Brunson’s brilliance on offense, questions remain about the team’s defensive setup—especially with both him and Karl-Anthony Towns struggling to hold their ground on that end.
Whether the duo can thrive together in the long run is still up in the air. One thing’s for sure, though: Brunson’s star is only getting brighter.
