Jalen Brunson’s championship run with the New York Knicks has dragged his 2022 free agent signing into an all-time debate.
Brunson capped the title with a 45-point performance in Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs, ending a 53-year wait for the franchise. The plaudits have followed — including from Shaquille O’Neal, who apologized on live television before calling Brunson the best free agent signing in NBA history.
Bill Simmons isn’t ready to go quite that far. The Ringer founder rates the move highly, but he reeled off a handful of signings he considers bigger before settling on where Brunson actually lands on his list.
Bill Simmons names the free agent signings bigger than Brunson
Speaking on The Bill Simmons podcast, he started with the 1996 move that built a dynasty in Los Angeles.
He said: “Well, a couple that I think were bigger: I think Shaq to the Lakers in ’96. Eight years, three rings, four finals, one MVP. That’s just a bigger signing than Brunson, sorry.”
He moved through the superteam era next, citing the Miami partnership of LeBron James and Chris Bosh alongside Kevin Durant’s switch to Golden State.
He added: “LeBron and Bosh, Durant to Golden State — that’s two titles.”
After running through a few more close candidates just below the Knicks superstar, Simmons landed on LeBron’s 2014 return to Cleveland as the closest match for what Brunson has done in New York.
“LeBron back to Cleveland in ’14, and then bringing a title to Cleveland. That has to be dead even with Brunson to the Knicks, so I would have it tied for fourth.”
Simmons did hand Brunson one distinction, though. Given the value — no max contract, no max extensions — he conceded the guard might be the savviest free agent signing the league has ever seen.
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