Is Jalen Brunson truly a top five player?
Jalen Brunson established himself as one of the top players in the league this past season, and he capped it all off with an NBA Championship and Finals MVP.
Brunson had another great regular season, playing 74 games and averaging 26 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists. He shot 46% from the field and 36% from three. He made his third straight All-Star Game, finished fifth in Clutch Player of the Year, and was second-team All-NBA.
He took his game to another level in the playoffs, averaging 28.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 6.1 assists on 46% shooting from the field and 36% from three. Brunson led the Knicks to a 16-3 record in the playoffs, leading them past the San Antonio Spurs in the Finals with clutch plays down the stretch.
Top Five
The Ringer published their latest edition of the Top 100 players in the NBA, putting the New York Knicks star at number five.
He is behind only two-time and reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder, game-changer center Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, and offensive force Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers.
Brunson was ahead of Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who now plays for the Miami Heat.
Brunson was 12th when the Ringers released their list in April after the end of the regular season.
Deserved To Be Top Five?
Based on his ranking at the end of the regular season and his ranking at the end of the season, it's clear that a lot of stock was put into Brunson's playoff run. It's well-deserved considering how well he played in the playoffs. The Knicks lost three games total, with two coming in their first three games of the entire playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks.
They beat the Spurs in the Finals despite being underdogs thanks to Brunson's clutch play.
Given how well he played compared to Edwards, who was ousted in the second round against the Spurs, and Giannis, who was injured for the majority of the season and didn't make the playoffs, it's understandable that Brunson would be ahead of them.
There's even a slight argument that he could be ahead of Luka Doncic, who was injured for the playoffs and didn't get a chance to make an impact, but Luka's overall offensive game still puts him one spot ahead.
