Walt Frazier knows what greatness looks like in New York. The Knicks legend was a seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-Defensive selection and a key figure in the franchise’s two NBA championship teams in the 1970s.
That history gives his words weight, even when they sound bold in the moment. In 2024, Frazier made a prediction about Jalen Brunson that some could easily have branded delusional.
Now, with the 29-year-old guard having led the Knicks to their first championship since 1973, those comments are being viewed very differently and only add to Frazier’s reputation for reading the game.
Walt Frazier saw Jalen Brunson’s Knicks greatness coming
The former point guard spoke about Brunson’s rise two years ago, when he had already changed the standards around Madison Square Garden.
Alongside Brunson on that occasion, Frazier said: “So, we know in this town it’s difficult, the expectations are always overwhelming. So, to rise to that occasion in his first two years and accept that challenge, catapulting the team… you know, he’s definitely got a chance to be one of the greatest Knicks ever.”
That prediction now feels far less risky. Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game in the postseason, guiding New York to the end of a 53-year title drought.
Jalen Brunson has forced his way into the Knicks GOAT debate
The conversation is no longer about whether Brunson deserves a place among the franchise’s greats. It is about whether he belongs in the greatest Knick of all time debate.
His case goes beyond consistent scoring. Brunson delivered in clutch moments and produced a Michael Jordan-level series-clinching performance, giving fans and analysts a reason to push the conversation further.
Patrick Ewing remains the answer for many because of his longevity, dominance and place in Knicks history. But the 2026 Finals MVP has now done what New York waited more than five decades to see, and automatically joined the conversation.
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