New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is on an incredible playoff run.
Through 17 games, Brunson is now averaging 30.1 points, 7.0 assists, and 3.5 rebounds, cementing his status as a Knicks postseason legend. His performance statistically rivals some of the greatest playoff efforts in franchise history. Here’s the shortlist.
Bernard King (1984 Playoffs): King holds the Knicks’ record for the highest-scoring postseason, averaging 34.8 points per game over 12 games. His 46-point outbursts in back-to-back games against the Detroit Pistons remain iconic, with a 57.4 percent field goal percentage.
Brunson’s 30.1 points per game trails King’s scoring but surpasses him in assists (7.0 vs. King’s 2.8), showcasing a more versatile offensive role. King’s Knicks won one series, while Brunson’s 2025 run has helped the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Finals, a deeper playoff push.
Patrick Ewing (1990 Playoffs): Ewing averaged 29.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists over 10 games, with a standout 44-point, 13-rebound Game 4 against the Boston Celtics. Brunson’s scoring edge (30.1 vs. 29.4) and significantly higher assists (7.0 vs. 2.3) highlight his playmaking superiority, though Ewing’s rebounding dominance (10.5 vs. 3.5) reflects his role as a dominant center. Ewing’s Knicks fell in the second round, while Brunson’s deeper run gives him an edge in team success.
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Walt Frazier (1970 Finals): Frazier’s legendary Game 7 in the 1970 Finals saw him drop 36 points, 19 assists, and 7 rebounds, leading the Knicks to their first championship. While Brunson’s per-game averages (30.1 points, 7.0 assists) don’t match Frazier’s single-game masterpiece, his consistency across 17 games mirrors Frazier’s clutch leadership. Frazier’s two-way play, including elite defense, sets a high bar, but Brunson’s scoring volume in 2025 is comparable.
Carmelo Anthony (2011 Playoffs): Anthony’s 2011 Game 2 against the Celtics featured 42 points, 17 rebounds, and 6 assists, though the Knicks were swept. Brunson’s 2025 averages outshine Anthony’s series-long output (28.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists), with greater consistency and team success, as the Knicks advanced further in 2025.
Brunson’s 2025 playoffs rank among the Knicks’ greatest, trailing only King’s scoring peak but surpassing Ewing and Anthony in playmaking and team success. His ability to carry the Knicks deep into the postseason echoes Frazier’s championship heroics.
But an NBA Finals ring still eludes Brunson … perhaps not for much longer if he and New York can pull off the unthinkable and win six more games.
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