Jalen Brunson delivered the performance of a lifetime to bring the New York Knicks their first NBA championship in 53 years. But even after watching his son author one of the greatest moments in franchise history, Rick Brunson is not ready to crown him the greatest Knick of all time.
Speaking recently about the growing debate surrounding Jalen Brunson’s place in franchise history, Rick Brunson offered a firm answer.
“I’m gonna stop the argument too… No disrespect, I love my son… Patrick Ewing is the greatest Knick I’ve ever witnessed.”
The timing of the comment is notable. Brunson’s legacy in New York reached another level on June 13 when he led the Knicks to a 94-90 victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, securing the franchise’s first championship since 1973.
Brunson scored 45 points on 14-for-27 shooting, adding four three-pointers and 13-for-15 accuracy from the free-throw line. He scored 13 consecutive Knicks points in the fourth quarter and set a franchise record for points in an NBA Finals game, surpassing the previous mark of 38 set by Willis Reed against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 Finals.
The championship capped a remarkable postseason run for the Knicks, who finished the regular season 53-29 and entered the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s third seed. New York defeated the Atlanta Hawks in six games, swept the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers, then beat the 62-win Spurs in five games to capture the title.
Brunson’s impact on the franchise has been undeniable. Since arriving in New York four years ago, he has transformed a team that had not reached the NBA Finals since 1999 into a champion. His leadership was especially evident during the Finals, where the Knicks erased double-digit deficits in all four of their victories.
Game 5 followed that same script. New York trailed by as many as 16 points and shot just 36% from the field, yet Brunson carried the offense while Mikal Bridges added 14 points and Josh Hart contributed 13. The comeback came only three days after the Knicks erased a 29-point deficit in Game 4, the largest comeback in NBA Finals history.
Still, Rick Brunson’s comments highlight the challenge of comparing players across eras. Ewing remains one of the defining figures in franchise history. Across 15 seasons with New York, the Hall of Fame center led the Knicks to multiple deep playoff runs, including NBA Finals appearances in 1994 and 1999, while becoming the franchise leader in points, rebounds, blocks and games played.
What has changed is that Jalen Brunson now owns something Ewing never captured in New York: an NBA championship.
Whether that eventually elevates Brunson above Ewing in the eyes of Knicks fans is a debate that will continue throughout the city. For now, even the newest Finals MVP’s biggest supporter believes the franchise’s all-time crown still belongs to Patrick Ewing.
And coming from his father, that endorsement may carry more weight than any argument on either side.
