The New York Knicks are looking to surpass what they achieved last year and make a run for the NBA Finals this season, hoping to end their championship drought. But so far, this season, doubts about their chances have mounted.
And some fans and pundits are claiming their key problem is Jalen Brunson being their leader.
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On “All The Smoke,” former NBA journeyman Matt Barnes argued that Brunson’s size poses a disadvantage to the Knicks. He believes that, with their Eastern and Western Conference rivals led by tall, athletic superstars, the Knicks’ road to the promised land would be difficult, if not highly unlikely.
“I love Brunson, but I feel like in this era, your point guard can’t be your best player if it’s a small guard,” Barnes said. “When your best player is that small, to me, it’s hard to win championships in the NBA.”
A common argument about Brunson
Standing at 6’2″, Brunson is averaging 26.3 points, which is ninth in the league, on 46.4 shooting from the field, 3.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game. In the latest MVP rankings, he is outside of the top 10.
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Brunson has led the Knicks to the third-best record in the Eastern Conference at 45-25. However, despite his solid numbers, Barned cannot lead the team to the Finals because of his small and unathletic build, which could set him back both on offense and defense.
He does not have a problem with guards taking the driver’s seat, as seen with teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons. Their franchise centerpieces, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cade Cunningham, both are listed at 6’6″, which is borderline the size of a wing.
Other former NBA players have echoed this argument. Knicks legend J.R. Smith also argued that Brunson is too small to lead the team, saying, “It’s a hard way to win in the NBA with small guards. Everybody knows that. It’s a hard way.”
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The Knicks need it from other places
Barnes clarified that this is not a knock on Brunson. He admits that he has been playing at a high level this season and in recent years. Without him, the Knicks would crumble. However, he emphasized that other players need to step up if they want to achieve their ultimate goal.
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“That’s no disrespect by any means because we all know he’s a hell of a player. One of the best guards in the game, but they need it from other places,” he explained.
These other places are OG Anunoby and Karl Anthony Towns, who are the highest-paid players on the roster this year. They have been posting solid numbers but have suffered from inconsistency. They also need Mikal Bridges, for whom Brunson sacrificed a $113 million to join forces with him.
“OG’s the highest-paid player. KAT is over there. Bridges, they paid King’s Ransom for Bridges and his performance at times has showed it, but consistently hasn’t showed it,” Barnes pointed out.
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The forward also said that they need Mike Brown to help Brunson lead the team, expecting him to always demand accountability and be tough with his Knicks. So far, Barnes believes he lacks in that area.
“I don’t have an issue with Mike Brown, but you know, Mike Brown to me is a great second chair,” he said. “I don’t know if he’s a leader of men be able to make that run. So, we’ll see.”
There are still a few games left in the regular season. We already have a picture of what the playoffs would look like in both conferences. We’ll have to wait until the start of the postseason for Brunson to prove his doubters wrong.
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This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.