The New York Knicks have won the 2026 NBA Championship after defeating the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in the series. The Finals MVP was Jalen Brunson, who stepped up big when the Knicks needed him the most in the series. 

Before the series, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green had his doubts about Jalen Brunson and the Knicks' chances of winning the NBA championship. He wasn't sure if Brunson was a player who could be the '1A' on a championship team. 

After the Knicks' 29-point comeback win in Game 4, Green was impressed by Brunson's performance. He went on to mention that his criticism was never a shot at Brunson, simply because he believes there are only five to seven '1A' players in the NBA. 

Green went on to say that his definition of '1A' players is guys like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Kawhi Leonard, to name a few. Now that Brunson has an NBA championship and Finals MVP under his belt, that may change. 

In the 2026 NBA Finals, Jalen Brunson averaged 32.6 points per game, 4.2 rebounds, and 4.6 assists. While he struggled to shoot the ball efficiently from the field for much of the series, he found his rhythm the final two games of the series. 

Even through his struggles, Brunson came up big for New York, hitting multiple clutch shots to win them games as well as contributing to multiple runs that helped the Knicks come back from deficits. 

In terms of what Draymond Green was comparing him to, he fits the criteria of a first option for a contending NBA team. LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, and Stephen Curry all had heroic performances in the Finals that drove their team to success. 

These were players who were able to control the game and take matters into their own hands when it counted most.

The Knicks had a great supporting cast around Jalen Brunson in the Finals. OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Mikal Bridges had big moments throughout the playoffs, but it was Brunson who was called upon when he was needed most, and he delivered. 

Jalen Brunson is a player who defied the odds stacked against him this season. Many counted him out due to his size, based on the direction the NBA is heading. Many of the game's top superstars are much taller than Brunson and have a well rounded skillset. 

It may be difficult to find a player like him for years to come, and it proves a shorter lead guard can lead a franchise to an NBA championship.