Despite being the 33rd pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Jalen Brunson has slowly but surely climbed the ranks of the NBA. Now, after leading the New York Knicks to their first championship in 53 years and being named Finals MVP in the process, Brunson finds himself at the peak, announcing himself as one of the best players in the league.
Jalen Brunson’s rise to stardom was gradual. After playing second fiddle to Luka Doncic on the Dallas Mavericks for the first four years of his career, Brunson earned the opportunity to be the first option once he joined the New York Knicks ahead of the 2022-23 season. Needless to say, the Knicks’ guard hasn’t looked back since.
As the face of the New York Knicks franchise, Jalen Brunson’s status as a superstar is beyond question. However, during a recent episode of the “Game Over” podcast, co-host Max Kellerman went as far as to say that Brunson was currently a bigger star than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
“Jalen Brunson is a bigger star than Shai – not close. Bigger star than Jokic – not close. None of those,” Kellerman stated. “The only guys who are on his level- he’s a bigger star than KD. He’s a bigger draw than KD right now.”
At this point, podcast host Rich Paul had to clarify the context of Kellerman’s claims, to which he responded, emphasizing it was only in reference to the NBA today. On that note, Kellerman proceeded to justify his statement.
“The most nationally televised games you’re allowed is 34,” he continued. “The Lakers get it, because they’re the Lakers… Knicks get 34, 76ers get 34, Wemby gets 34. Oklahoma City gets 30; that’s a hell of a thing considering the small market. The Nuggets then get 28. Jokic is a big star.”
It is worth noting that much of Kellerman’s and Rich Paul’s conversation was centered on Tyrese Haliburton’s comments about the Pacers’ opening-night game not being nationally televised. Although these concerns are justified, Kellerman’s comments about Jalen Brunson demand more attention.
The rationale Kellerman used involved the number of nationally televised games the Knicks had compared to the Thunder and the Nuggets.
As one of the biggest markets in global sports, New York teams are bound to receive more media attention. Given how big the Knicks are as an organization, especially now that they are coming off a title run, the franchise deserves more nationally televised games.
In contrast, teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets, which are from a significantly smaller market, are unlikely to receive the same attention. However, with stars such as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, along with their reputation as title contenders, both teams earn their moment in the sun.
So does this have anything to do with star power?
Not necessarily.
While Jalen Brunson is undoubtedly one of the best players in the league and has now established himself as a household name, his reputation as a superstar is not the only factor behind the Knicks’ uptick in nationally televised games. Given the sheer size of the market and the media hype surrounding the franchise, New York was always in a solid position to receive nationwide attention.
On the contrary, one could argue that the fact that small-market teams like OKC and Denver are even receiving national coverage for 25+ games could point to even greater star power. When considering the kind of roster struggles the Nuggets have endured this summer due to the perils of the second apron, it is evident that Nikola Jokic’s superstar status is still worth banking on from a media perspective.
In all fairness, such a comment should neither exaggerate nor undermine Jalen Brunson’s status as a superstar. Given what he has sacrificed for his team and his elite performances in the NBA Finals, Brunson is arguably among the most humble stars in the NBA today. Now, in light of his achievements, one could also consider him the template for the modern superstar.
