Despite being born on the other side of the Hudson River, as a New Jersey native, Jalen Brunson is now an honorary New Yorker. Brunson took an unprecedented contract extension discount and earned the team captain role for the New York Knicks, so the Empire State embraced the star. Furthermore, Karl-Anthony Towns joining the Knicks created a new dynamic in New York.
Despite such feats and a talented roster not seen since Patrick Ewing, Brunson became subject to a bold take. Three-time NBA All-Star and podcast host Gilbert Arenas shared a thought-provoking take on a recent episode of “Gil’s Arena.”
“I think Kat should be the number one option,” Arenas said. “I think it’d take a lot of pressure off Brunson carrying the team. It’s like the Shaq-Kobe style, right?”
For Brunson and Towns to earn an off-hand Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal comparison, although inaccurate, is significantly high praise. However, regarding the actual on-court comparison to the legendary Los Angeles Lakers duo, Brunson and Towns have vastly different games.
Furthermore, Towns, for all his All-Star talent, is not a playmaker, at least not one who improves other players. Towns, as the primary option with the Minnesota Timberwolves, didn’t net much regarding playoff success or even playoff berths. Towns doesn’t want the first-option role, which he gracefully gave to Anthony Edwards the previous two seasons in Minnesota.
Although a 5-6 record would make most abandon their original plans, in the Eastern Conference, such a record ranks the Knicks fourth in the standings. There is no need to drastically change the hierarchy of the Knicks’ rotation and team roles. Still, considering the disappointing 2024-25 season start, the hot takes regarding the Knicks make for an engaging conversation.
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