LeBron James didn’t exactly back down from the obvious headline about the Knicks’ title run. On the “Mind the Game” podcast with Steve Nash, he praised New York as a group full of “a bunch of guys that compete” and “winners,” but when the conversation turned to the Finals MVP, he made his real point clear: he believes OG Anunoby was the steadier and more valuable presence.
“OG [Anunoby] was I think was the MVP of the team in the Finals,” James told Nash. “Obviously, Brunson became the MVP, but it’s the small things.
The chase-down block on De'Aaron Fox, the tip for the game. He was consistent.
“Obviously, we know Jalen Brunson was the head of the snake, but I think OG was just like, he was the most steady person for that team,” he contended.
That view cuts against the official award, which went to Brunson after the Knicks’ championship season. And the numbers help explain why this is such a sharp take.
In five games during the NBA Finals, Anunoby posted 21.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 1.4 blocks and one assist per game. Brunson, according to StatMuse, averaged 32.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists and two steals per game.
The Knicks, of course, still finished the job. They claimed the franchise’s third title overall and first in 53 years earlier this year, and both Brunson and Anunoby played major roles in that run. James’ point wasn’t that Brunson was unimportant; it was that Anunoby’s all-around steadiness and the little plays stood out enough to make him, in James’ eyes, the stronger Finals MVP choice.
That comment lands with the season right around the corner and New York already set as one of the Eastern Conference’s early favorites alongside the Philadelphia 76ers. It also gives Brunson a little extra edge heading into the first meeting between the teams on Tuesday, Oct. 20, when the 76ers visit Madison Square Garden for a night that will also include the Knicks raising their championship banner.
In Other News...
James Wiseman May Have Forced His Way Into Knicks Final Roster Spot
James Wiseman arrived in camp on an Exhibit 9 deal, the kind of low-risk signing that usually reads more like an invitation than a guarantee. But as preseason has rolled on, the former No. 1 pick has given the Knicks reason to pay closer attention, especially after a double-double that added some real weight to his push for a roster spot.
The Knicks do not have many openings to work with, and the back end of the roster is still very much in play. Still, Wiseman has at least put himself into the conversation as a possible third center, and Mike Browns previous experience coaching him only adds another layer to a decision that could come down to fit as much as upside. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Roster Battle Took Shape In A Blowout Fans Can Ignore
The Knicks trip to Toronto was the kind of preseason loss that barely registers in the standings but can still matter in the back of the roster. New York fell to 0-4 with its top-seven players unavailable, leaving the game to serve more as an audition than an evaluation of the teams real rotation. From that angle, the focus turned to the active players who got extended looks, including Nickel, Eubanks and Wiseman, and what they showed in a game that was never really about the final score.
What made the night worth watching was less the blowout than the way it sharpened the roster conversation. The Knicks are still sorting through which fringe pieces can help beyond camp, and this matchup offered a clearer view of strengths and weaknesses than a typical preseason box score ever could. Even with the result fully detachable from the standings, performances like these can still leave a mark on how the final decisions get made. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Still Face One Roster Decision That Could Change Their Bench
With one roster spot still open, the Knicks are weighing a decision that could shape the balance of their bench heading into the season. The choice comes down to James Wiseman and Bruce Brown, two very different players who would fill different needs as New York rounds out the back end of the roster.
Browns experience and defensive versatility stand out as obvious selling points for a team looking to tighten up its second unit. There is also a path, at least in theory, for the Knicks to keep both if they work out a trade involving Pacme Dadiet and second-round draft picks before the season opener, which would give the front office a little more flexibility while leaving this final roster call unresolved. [Read more 🡒]