There's no doubt in anybody's mind right now that All-Star guard Jalen Brunson is the king of New York. After leading the Knicks back to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, giving them the precious chance to end a long 53-year title drought, sports fans have heaped praise on the 6'2" guard, with some even anointing him as the "greatest Knick of all time."
It's hard to make an argument against that claim, especially with Brunson's incredible postseason performances. With his clutch shots and steady leadership that helped steer the Knicks back on the winning path after encountering some stiff resistance from the Atlanta Hawks in the first round, the former Villanova ace has earned every bit of praise he has received.
However, Hall of Famer Paul Pierce is not on the train that is trumpeting Brunson as the Knicks' GOAT. The Truth explained that even if JB leads NY to the promised land this season, his body of work pales in comparison to Patrick Ewing's .
Nobody can deny how Brunson has transformed the Knicks since signing with the team in 2022. After falling short in the East finals last season, he adjusted his game to better engage his teammates, and the results have spoken for themselves.
Not to say that Brunson hasn't been sensational, as he's averaging 26.9 points on 48.6 percent shooting and 6.6 assists per game. But with the four other starters also averaging in double figures and their sixth man, Landry Shamet , averaging 9.8 points per game, it's apparent that JB hasn't been hesitant to share the rock with his teammates.
However, Pierce argued that a single magical run cannot overshadow an entire career spent carrying the Knicks franchise.
"He'll be in the conversation 100%. I mean, you're talking about a guy who's leading them, of course," Pierce said , referring to talk of Brunson being the Knicks' GOAT.
However, in the Truth's mind, longevity matters, and Brunson has only been a Knick for four seasons.
"You've got to throw in guys who were there for so many years, like Patrick Ewing," he continued. "Even if Brunson wins it — he still wouldn't be greater than Patrick Ewing just because you won. If you look at Patrick's career as a Knick overall, it's different."
With the so-called "ring culture" saturating the NBA today, people often forget how incredible Ewing was for the Knicks, even though he never won a ring. Picked first in the 1985 draft, Big Pat immediately became an All-Star in his rookie year and helped the Knicks ascend the ladder in the Eastern Conference with his reliable and effective two-way play.
An MVP contender in eight of the 17 seasons he played, Ewing was at his best during the 1990s, leading the Knicks to the 1994 NBA Finals, where they fell to Hakeem Olajuwon in a hard-fought seven-game series.
Pierce didn't discount how great Brunson has been for the Knicks, but emphasized that he still has a long way to go to earn the distinction of being the franchise's GOAT.
"If Jalen Brunson continues to play there and then we say, all right, after eight or nine years as a Knick, with a championship, more All-Star appearances, and better stats, then he'll definitely be in the conversation for number one," Pierce concluded.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
