The New York Knicks are coming off their most successful season since 2000, reaching the Eastern Conference finals before falling to the Indiana Pacers.
The club was led by star point guard Jalen Brunson, who has been with the Knicks since the 2022-23 campaign. The 29-year-old has thrived in New York after leaving the Dallas Mavericks for a larger role, averaging 26.2 points, 6.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds across 35.3 minutes per game in his three-year stint with the Knicks.
Brunson has earned back-to-back All-NBA Second Team honors and has been named an All-Star in both seasons. He also won the Clutch Player of the Year award in 2024-25, solidifying his status as the backbone of New York's recent success.
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Brunson predicted to be Knicks’ top player through 2028
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report recently predicted every team's top player in three seasons, naming Brunson the obvious choice to be the Knicks’ leading option by 2028.
“Because Brunson has been the main driver of New York's recent success, and because he's playing on a team-friendly deal, there's very little chance the organization will sour on him,” he wrote. “Few players have built up more equity with a team and fan base than he has, which means Brunson is going to be welcomed in New York for as long as he wants to be there.”
Brunson is under contract through the 2028-29 season, though he has a player option and could opt for a bigger payday from the Knicks after taking a team-friendly extension last July.
The former second-round pick has exceeded expectations at the NBA level, and there's little reason to believe he won't continue to do so with the Knicks — even as he enters his early 30s.
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