Jalen Brunson is putting together a playoff run for the ages, yet the numbers reveal a fascinating dichotomy that mirrors what fans and analysts alike have seen on the court.
According to Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM), Brunson currently grades as both the best offensive player and the worst defender in the 2025 NBA Playoffs. His +4.9 Offensive EPM ranks in the 100th percentile, a league-best metric that underscores his immense scoring and playmaking impact. However, his -3.7 Defensive EPM ranks in the 1st percentile, marking him as statistically the worst defender in the entire postseason.
That blend of brilliance and vulnerability has defined the New York Knicks‘ run this spring. Offensively, Brunson is as polished and clutch as any star in the league.
He’s averaging 30.4 points, 7.7 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 45.6% from the field and 35.8% from three. Against the Indiana Pacers alone, he’s poured in 39.5 points and 8.0 assists per game through two matchups, including a 36-point, 11-assist performance in Game 2 that kept New York within striking distance.
With that effort, Brunson wrote himself into franchise lore, surpassing Patrick Ewing for the most 30-point playoff games in Knicks history. It was his 18th such game, and he did it in just his second season with the team.
He also joined elite company by recording his seventh playoff game with at least 30 points and 10 assists, a feat only LeBron James and Michael Jordan have topped.
Yet despite all that heroism, the Knicks are trailing the Pacers 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals. The problem isn’t Brunson’s offense, it’s what happens when opponents target him on the other end.
Defensive breakdowns and blown coverages have plagued New York in crunch time, with teams often hunting Brunson in pick-and-rolls or exploiting mismatches created when he switches onto bigger wings.
The EPM data supports what the eye test shows: Brunson’s on-ball defense and lateral quickness can’t consistently keep up against the elite pace and spacing of playoff-caliber offenses.
The Indiana Pacers, who have five players who can spread the floor at once, are particularly punishing in this regard. Whether it’s Tyrese Haliburton, Andrew Nembhard, or even Obi Toppin, they’re repeatedly finding success attacking Brunson’s defensive zone.
This dynamic has left Knicks head coach Tom Thibodeau in a difficult position. Brunson is unquestionably the team’s offensive engine and emotional leader, but his defensive liabilities are bleeding points.
The Knicks’ starting lineup has been outscored by 50 points this postseason, including a staggering -29 in just two games against Indiana.
There’s no question that Brunson is having one of the greatest offensive playoff runs in franchise history. He’s clutch, efficient, and relentless.
But for the Knicks to have any shot at turning this series around, they’ll need better team defense behind him or find a way to mask his weaknesses without diminishing his offensive role.
In this historic postseason for Brunson, his legacy is still being written. Whether it ends in triumph or heartbreak may come down to whether the Knicks can survive the consequences of relying on the league’s best offensive player, who also happens to be its most exploitable defender.
