Jay Williams was on ESPN’s “Get Up!” today and made a very bold statement about New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson. Williams said, “I think we’re watching the greatest Knick to ever play in that uniform.” Williams did say that we have to wait until it’s all said and done when Brunson gets a championship but stood firm that the basketball world was watching the best New York Knick of all time.
Williams might have a bit of a recency bias
There’s no closer example of recency bias than what Williams said. He is talking about a player who made a clutch shot to win a postseason game and series, saying he is the greatest Knick of all time. All of this was said about 12 hours after the shot was made. It might be safe to say Williams jumped the gun here.
Brunson is not better than Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Charles Oakley or even Carmelo Anthony. It seems like Williams was trying to say that Brunson has the potential to be the greatest Knick of all time, but that’s not how it came out. At face value, his statement was eye-opening and shocking.
NBA Fans Shared a Similar Reaction
A vast majority of the reaction was similar to the one stated above. Until Brunson wins multiple championships and has a run of consecutive all-star appearances, this claim is completely invalid. Sure, the shot was exciting but even Knicks fans would tell you Williams is crazy.
This claim could be labeled as an “ESPN hot take” famously dubbed as an analyst who goes on the network and says an opinion that is a reach and far out there.
Jalen Brunson has the potential to get there
He has the potential to get there. Last postseason, Brunson averaged 32.4 points per game, 7.5 assists and about three rebounds a game. This postseason, in six games played, he’s averaging 31.5 points, 8.5 assists and four rebounds. Remarkably consistent stats in the playoffs the last two seasons.
One thing to take from what Williams said on Get Up is his point on roster construction. In the last two postseasons, he has been the main player for the Knicks. If they want to go deep this year, they’re going to have to get more from Karl Anthony Towns. The Knicks are building something with Brunson and Towns but might be a year or two away. We’ll have to see what the Knicks do against the Celtics.
