The New York Knicks eliminated the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 of their first-round series in the 2025 NBA Playoffs on Thursday night by a score of 116-113, as the Knicks' 2025 Clutch Player of the Year winner Jalen Brunson nailed a clutch go-ahead three-pointer with 4.3 seconds remaining to notch 40 points for the game and propel his team to the next round.
New York faces a daunting challenge in the second round as they'll face off against the reigning 2024 NBA champion Boston Celtics, but the NBA world has used the break in between series' to give Brunson his flowers for a sensational performance against Detroit.
In fact, one media member took the opportunity to heap praise onto the 2-time All-Star and 2024 All-NBA Second Team selection, even going as far as saying that his three seasons spent with New York have been enough to declare the 6-foot-2 scoring guard as the greatest player in franchise history.
"I don't think they're actually gonna have a chance against the Boston Celtics, but I think we are watching the greatest Knick ever to play in that Knick uniform," NBA analyst Jay Williams said during a Friday morning appearance on ESPN's Get Up.
"Before it's all said and done, I think we will be talking about him in that capacity."
Though he's only suited up for 210 total games as a member of the storied franchise, the elusive offensive weapon has surely placed himself on the right trajectory to claim a top spot on the long list of Knicks greats.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Spanning his first three full regular seasons with New York since arriving via free agency from the Dallas Mavericks in the summer of 2022, Brunson has averaged 26.4 points, 6.7 assists and 3.4 rebounds, leading the team to the playoffs in each campaign.
In the postseason, Brunson's legend only continues to grow.
Over the course of 30 playoff games as a member of the Knicks, the 28-year-old has bumped his scoring average to a ridiculous 30.5 points to go along with 6.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds on a 55.5% true shooting percentage.
While the Knicks may not be favored by many to dethrone the reigning champions in the second round, Brunson will still have a chance to further cement his legacy as one of the greatest players to ever don the blue and orange in the 2025 postseason.
More NBA: Lakers get brutal news on LeBron James' contract situation