By Matthew Couden0ShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberSee more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.The New York Knicks reached the NBA Finals thanks to Jalen Brunson, a player who has become a surprising star after going No. 33 to the Dallas Mavericks in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
Brunson has delivered standout performances throughout his team's dominant 11-game run to reach the championship series, including an impressive 38-point effort that led the Knicks to a comeback win in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
He had a 35-point game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the round before that, and dropped 39 points on the Atlanta Hawks in the first round. Add that to also making big passes to teammates for shots or grabbing rebounds, and his contributions have been massive for a player standing at 6-foot-2.
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There has been much criticism against smaller players being unable to win championships, with one of the biggest examples being Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. Former 76ers star Charles Barkley realizes that Brunson now has a chance to do something special, cementing his legacy through a championship.
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..."I said this a few years ago. I think Brunson might turn out to be the greatest free agent signing. I'm not talking about LeBron and Kevin Durant and guys like that, but I think Brunson, if he's able to deliver a championship to New York, it'll be the greatest free agent signing in NBA history," Barkley said.
The NBA legend reminded everyone that absolutely no one thought Brunson would be this good when he entered the league, but look at him after signing with the Knicks.
"He's turned them into a perennial contender. They went from never being talked about to the conference champions ... Now they're in the Finals because of Brunson," he said.
Barkley added the caveat to make sure people don't get it confused. LeBron James and KD were already among the league's superstars before signing with other teams as free agents, and then they went on to win championships.
For example, LeBron famously appeared in "The Decision" to announce he was leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign with the Miami Heat, joining Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in South Beach. They won several championships together. He later signed to return to Cleveland, winning another title with the Cavaliers, and then won his fourth with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Durant hadn't won an NBA championship in Oklahoma City, so he decided it was best to join another star-studded team that could win one. He signed a two-year contract with the Golden State Warriors in 2016 and went on to win two championships there.
Meanwhile, Brunson has only signed with one team since joining the league: the New York Knicks. That move came in 2022, when the Mavs' second-round pick opted to sign a more lucrative deal and take on a more significant role.
Should the Knicks win the championship, Brunson would be a driving force in that; it would certainly make him the greatest free-agent signing in the history of the game.
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