There was a time when fans and media personalities criticized the New York Knicks for making Jalen Brunson their centerpiece. As prolific as Brunson is at putting the ball in the basket, especially when the game hangs in the balance, there's no denying he's a 6'2" guard with defensive limitations and who dribbles the air out of the ball.
However, the three-time All-Star and former Clutch Player of the Year has silenced all the naysayers after leading the Knicks to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. Now just four victories away from handing the Knicks their first title since 1973, a question that popular sports commentator Max Kellerman posed was if a franchise is trying to win it all, which player would they hand the keys to: Brunson or Luka Doncic ?
According to 1999 NBA champion Antonio Daniels, the answer is a no-brainer: it's Brunson.
The Brunson that fans celebrate today has proven nightly how lethal he can be with the rock in his hands. It doesn't matter who his defender is or what defensive scheme the opposing team has sprung, the former Villanova ace always finds ways to get his shot off and get buckets.
However, things weren't always this way. In fact, his career began with him playing off the bench and backing up Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks . It was during the 2021-22 season that Brunson showed his versatility, playing alongside the Slovenian sensation and still being effective, averaging 16.3 points in the regular season before bumping that up to 21.3 points per game in the playoffs.
"I'll tell you the reason why I would say Brunson," Daniels, a 13-year NBA veteran, reckoned on "Game Over."
"The reason I'd say that is because I've seen Brunson play with and without the ball," he explained.
Daniels clarified that he believes Doncic is one of the best in the NBA today—a 6'6" point guard who plays to the drum of his own beat and can virtually do anything he wants on offense. However, what Luka has yet to show is a willingness to play without the ball in his hands.
"I haven't seen Luka — as talented as Luka is, and Luka is crazy talented. He can score from anywhere on the floor. Excellent passer. But I haven't seen him play where his usage is low," Antonio said.
Doncic led the league in scoring (33.5 points a game) and had the Lakers looking like legitimate contenders in the West before a hamstring injury in early April sidelined him for the rest of the season. Daniels' comments, though, hold water.
The Slovenian has been the man since he joined the Mavs in 2018 and continues to be the man for the Lakers since they acquired him via trade in February 2025. In fact, the King, LeBron James , had to re-adjust his role and embrace being the team's third option with Luka in the fold.
LeBron's longtime friend and agent, Rich Paul, agreed with Daniels' sentiment.
"I would say Brunson," Rich said, responding to Max's question. "If you're picking Brunson, it's because of the optionality that he gives you."
Brunson is now on the cusp of becoming the greatest Knick of all time. But the upcoming challenge in the NBA Finals is daunting, with either the San Antonio Spurs or the Oklahoma City Thunder posing its own set of challenges for the Knicks. But with Jalen already having come so many challenges in his career, it's best not to doubt his capability of pulling off this improbable feat.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 26, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
