Jalen Brunson better than Stephen Curry? Isiah Thomas stuns everyone

Jalen Brunson has officially cemented his place in New York Knicks history after delivering the franchise’s first NBA championship in 53 years. The former Mavericks guard served as the team’s driving force throughout its title run, capped by a remarkable 45-point performance in the championship-clinching road victory.

The path to the title was anything but easy. The Knicks had to overcome a talented San Antonio Spurs team and rallied from double-digit deficits four separate times during the Finals. A journey that only added to the significance of New York’s championship triumph.

Brunson’s postseason heroics have earned praise across the basketball world, but few endorsements were as striking as those from Isiah Thomas, who went as far as comparing him to one of the defining players of the modern era: Stephen Curry.

Speaking on FanDuel’s Run It Back, Thomas explained why he believes Brunson’s impact differs from that of the Golden State Warriors superstar.

Curry did it with shooting and scoring. Brunson, the way I used to do it, did it by scoring and creating for his teammates. That’s something completely different. And that’s what makes him special. He can set up others and then score. Curry was more of a scorer

Isiah Thomas

Thomas’ comments highlight Brunson’s ability to function as both an elite scorer and a playmaker, a combination the Hall of Famer believes makes the Knicks point guard uniquely valuable.

At the same time, Thomas’ comparison is likely to spark debate. Reducing Stephen Curry’s impact to scoring alone overlooks a major part of what made him one of the most transformative players in NBA history. Throughout the Warriors dynasty, Curry was not only one of the league’s premier scorers but also a player who fundamentally changed offensive spacing because of the constant defensive attention he commanded.

His presence on the floor forced opponents to completely alter their defensive game plans, creating opportunities for teammates throughout the lineup. The numbers also paint a different picture than the one described by Thomas: across his 34 career NBA Finals games, Curry averaged 6 assists per contest.

Even statistically, the comparison remains open for discussion. During the 2026 Finals, Brunson averaged 4.6 assists per game, a figure below Curry’s overall Finals average.

One thing, however, is undeniable: the Knicks’ championship run has permanently established Jalen Brunson as a franchise legend. The debate over where he belongs among the game’s all-time greats will likely continue for years, but his name is now forever etched into New York basketball history.