Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks Into Preseason After Championship and Controversial Ranking

Jalen Brunson is handling a new reality as a reigning NBA champion and Finals MVP. The New York Knicks star is back on the court for preseason action, but a lopsided opening loss and a fresh debate about his standing among the league's elite are setting the stage for the 2026-27 title defense.

The New York Knicks' first preseason game on Monday, October 5, was a humbling 23-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Brunson played just 15 minutes in the contest, scoring 12 points with four rebounds and three assists. Philadelphia's Jaylen Brown led all scorers with 22 points, while the 76ers sat stars LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey.

Brunson called the defeat a learning opportunity. "It's a good first step. Not a great first step, but as long as we're making strides in the right direction, it's something to be happy about," he said after the game. The team is managing workloads carefully, especially for Brunson, who spent much of the summer in a cast after surgery to repair a tendon in his left wrist.

A new ESPN ranking placed Brunson as the No. 6 player in the league, a spot that has sparked immediate pushback from within the network's own ranks. Analytics pioneer Dean Oliver argued that rating is inflated by "New York media bias" and placed Brunson closer to No. 25. Oliver pointed to Brunson missing the shot that led to OG Anunoby's iconic tip-in to win Game 4 of the Finals as a moment often overlooked in his narrative.

The official ESPN panel, which did not include Oliver, ranked only Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo ahead of the Knicks' guard.

Brunson's path to the 2025-26 championship, where he averaged 45 points in the closeout Game 5 to win Finals MVP, was forged by an early, stark choice. On a podcast that aired recently, he revealed his parents presented him with an ultimatum in high school. He could only pick two of three priorities: school, basketball, or a social life.

"School was clearly not an option to say no to. So it was really between basketball and my social life. And I chose basketball," Brunson said. That commitment fueled a decorated career featuring state championships in high school, two national titles at Villanova University, and now the NBA's ultimate prize.

Just two days before the preseason opener, Brunson returned to his college roots. He joined former Villanova Wildcats and current Knicks teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges for the "Nova Nation Tip-Off" event on Sunday, October 4. The trio, celebrated as the 'Nova Knicks, were greeted as NBA champions at Finneran Pavilion to help kick off the Villanova basketball season.

The homecoming capped a whirlwind offseason that followed the franchise's first title in 53 years. Now, the focus shifts to a grueling new campaign. Brunson has already stressed the entire roster must be on the same page to contend again, a challenge no team has met since the 2018 Golden State Warriors.

with Brunson scoring 12 points in 15 minutes.

• Ranking Debate: ESPN's panel ranked Brunson the 6th-best NBA player, but network analyst Dean Oliver contends he is closer to 25th.
• Personal History: Brunson credits his success to choosing basketball over a social life in high school, following a mandate from his parents.
• Health Note: The guard is on a minutes limit in preseason after undergoing left wrist tendon surgery this summer.

The team's full preseason schedule and regular-season quest to repeat can be tracked on our [fixtures](/fixtures) page. For Brunson, every step from here is about proving last year was no fluke, both to his doubters and to himself.