Jalen Brunson’s popularity as one of many NBA’s most dependable clutch performers acquired one other endorsement from veteran ahead P.J. Tucker, who mentioned he would select the New York Knicks star over reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Showing on Fanatics Fest, Tucker defined why Brunson stands above the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder guard in his eyes regardless of Gilgeous-Alexander’s dominant regular-season manufacturing.
“I’m rolling with JB for positive,” Tucker mentioned. “JB’s so clutch, bro. It ain’t even like I believe that he’s like a 90’s period participant, bro. And other people don’t see it like that as a result of he don’t speak loads and he don’t do an excessive amount of, however everyone, like if you on his crew and also you on the bench, you over there like he’s getting the ball, bro. Like he’s going to — if he’s not taking pictures, he’s making the play each single time. And it’s plenty of groups on this league that acquired stars and all that and so they don’t want the moments.”
Tucker’s feedback come after Brunson capped a historic 2025-26 marketing campaign by main the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973. New York completed 53-29, the third seed within the Japanese Convention, earlier than sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the conference finals and defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games to capture the title.
Brunson averaged 26.0 factors, 6.8 assists and three.3 rebounds through the common season whereas incomes his third consecutive All-Star choice and a second straight All-NBA Second Team honor. He shot 46.7% from the sector and averaged simply 2.4 turnovers regardless of carrying one of many league’s highest offensive workloads.
His postseason manufacturing reached one other degree. Throughout 19 playoff video games, Brunson averaged 28.4 factors, 6.1 assists and three.2 rebounds whereas taking pictures 46.5% from the sector. He additionally delivered within the largest moments, serving to New York full the most important comeback in NBA Finals historical past in Sport 4 earlier than closing out the Spurs in Sport 5. Brunson was named Finals MVP after averaging 28.4 factors all through the playoffs.
Gilgeous-Alexander, in the meantime, continued his ascent as one among basketball’s elite two-way stars. The Thunder guard received his second consecutive MVP award after averaging 31.1 factors, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals whereas taking pictures a career-best 55.3% from the sector and posting a exceptional 59.7% efficient area purpose proportion.
Oklahoma Metropolis additionally completed with the NBA’s greatest regular-season report at 64-18. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to the Western Convention Finals, the place they pushed the eventual convention champion Spurs to seven video games earlier than falling quick.
Over 5 profession postseason appearances, Gilgeous-Alexander has averaged 26.2 factors, 6.2 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 61 playoff video games. In the course of the 2026 playoffs, he posted 27.6 factors and seven.9 assists per sport, although Oklahoma Metropolis’s championship hopes ended one spherical earlier than the Finals.
Statistically, Gilgeous-Alexander owns the stronger regular-season résumé. He has averaged not less than 30 factors in 4 consecutive seasons, captured back-to-back MVP awards and persistently ranks among the many league leaders in effectivity and scoring.
Tucker, nonetheless, emphasised a distinct high quality. His desire centered on Brunson’s composure in stress conditions and confidence that the Knicks star will persistently make the best determination when the sport is on the road—traits which have grow to be synonymous with New York’s championship run.
