Jalen Brunson has spent most of his NBA life proving people wrong, and now the league’s latest rankings are catching up to what the Knicks have known for a while.
The New York point guard landed at No. 5 on The Ringer’s Top 100 NBA players list, a major leap in status for a player who has long been treated like an afterthought compared with the production he’s delivered. It’s the first time The Ringer has ever placed Brunson inside its top 10, and the timing makes plenty of sense after the season he just put together.
Brunson came off a generational run in which he led the Knicks to their first championship in 53 years. He was at his best when the pressure was highest, taking over late-game moments and flipping low-scoring games with big scoring bursts. In the process, he helped end what had become one of the most notorious championship droughts in sports.
That kind of impact is rare for any player. For a guard Brunson’s size, it’s even rarer.
There’s only one way to win an NBA title with a small guard as your best player-and that’s if they’re a total anomaly.
Jalen Brunson is a total anomaly.
- Rob Mahoney (@RobMahoney) June 14, 2026
The Ringer’s Kirk Goldsberry made the case for Brunson’s spot near the top of the league, pointing to the Knicks’ title run and Brunson’s Finals finish:
"What’s greater than five stars? Brunson just led the New York Knicks to their first title in 53 years.
And the NBA’s newest Finals MVP saved his best for last, ripping off 45 points in Game 5 (the rest of his team scored 49) as he led New York to one of the most significant titles this league has ever seen. For decades, the idea that the Knicks could win it all seemed like a fantasy, but Brunson and his teammates just made it a reality.
This man is an instant icon in New York and beyond."
Only four players were ranked ahead of him: two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Defensive Player of the Year Victor Wembanyama, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, and two-time scoring champion Luka Doncic.
For Brunson, the recognition feels overdue. He entered the NBA as a second-round pick after winning two national championships and the National College Player of the Year award in a three-year run at Villanova.
Even after that, it took four seasons before he became a consistent starter. Then came the Dallas Mavericks’ decision not to re-sign him at a reasonable price after he helped them reach the 2022 Western Conference Finals.
His first season in New York only added to the mystery of why he had been so undervalued. Brunson averaged 24.0 points and 6.2 assists per game while shooting .491/.416/.829, and he helped spark a 10-win jump. Even then, he still didn’t get All-Star or All-NBA recognition.
Now the conversation has changed. In 2026, Brunson has become undeniable, and a top-five ranking is a fair reflection of what he’s accomplished.
There’s also a path for even more if the Knicks keep rolling. If New York sits atop the Eastern Conference and Brunson keeps playing at this level, he could even find himself in the MVP mix.
For now, though, the bigger story is simpler: Jalen Brunson is finally getting the respect he’s earned.
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