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CBS Sports discredits Knicks’ Jalen Brunson in NBA point guard ranking

By Mark Wessol

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 18: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Mavericks 111-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 18: Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 18, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Mavericks 111-101. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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CBS Sports recently published an article ranking the top 22 point guards in the NBA, and quite frankly, I don’t agree with a lot of the list.

To start off, new New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson is ranked in the 21st best point guard slot, and while I am doing my best to leave bias out, surely he should be higher than 21.

CBS Sports lists Knicks’ Jalen Brunson at No. 21 in point guard ranking

If you take a deeper look at the rankings, numerous players are listed ahead of Brunson, like Ben Simmons, Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, CJ McCollum, and Tyrese Maxey (or James Harden), who are simply not true point guards. They are great and talented players, so no discredit to them.

I am fully aware that today’s NBA is shifting more towards “position-less” basketball, but comparing some of these guys to Brunson isn’t fair.

Also, Marcus Smart being ranked above Brunson is questionable to me. Sure, he is great defensively, but Brunson seems to have a much better all-around game.

Another player ahead of Jalen is Fred VanVleet. To have Brunson at 21 and VanVleet at 12 is silly. If you say VanVleet is a better point guard, fine, but to say that he deserves to be nine spots of Brunson is something that I will not let you get away with.

Brunson and the Knicks agreed on a four-year deal worth $104 million this summer, making him the 14th highest-paid point guard in the league. Looking around the NBA, I would say that is good value. If I were to make my own list of point guards, Brunson would be right around the 14-16 range.

We as Knicks fans know all too well about what has seemed to be a forever hunt for a franchise point guard, and I think Brunson could be the answer. He is a crafty finisher around the rim, has a high basketball IQ, and works hard on both sides of the ball.

Brunson’s new teammates sure sound like they are ready to get going with him.

Brunson is coming off a great year where he averaged 16.3 points and 4.8 assists while shooting 50.2% from the field and 37.3% from three. When you remember that this was done while playing in the shadows of Luka Doncic, it’s pretty impressive.

If Tom Thibodeau lets Jalen Brunson be the primary ball handler and has RJ Barrett and Julius Randle play off him, I think that he will end up surprising a lot of people this season.

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