The New York Knicks are back in the NBA Finals for the first time in decades, and the basketball world is buzzing about one man: Jalen Brunson. After his electric Game 1 performance against the San Antonio Spurs, the conversation has shifted from whether the Knicks can win the title to whether Brunson has officially arrived among the league’s elite. But according to Hall of Fame legend Gary Payton, the answer is almost — but not quite.
Speaking on the Game Over podcast, Payton dropped a bombshell that has fans and analysts alike reeling. The man known as “The Glove” revealed that, right now, there are only two players he would take over Brunson. And one of them happens to be a teammate of his son, Gary Payton II, on the Golden State Warriors.
“Steph Curry would make a lot of baskets and a lot of shots. He’s coming off picks. He’s going to be big time,” Payton explained, his voice carrying the weight of decades of NBA wisdom. The other name? Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards. Payton gushed over Edwards’ explosive athleticism, saying he can “jump out the gym and can do a lot of things.”
But here’s where it gets interesting: sources close to the situation claim that Payton’s comments were not just a casual opinion — they may reflect a growing sentiment among NBA insiders who see Brunson as a top-five talent, but not yet the best. “The Glove respects Brunson’s game, no doubt,” one league insider told us. “But he’s drawing a line in the sand. He’s saying Curry and Ant are the gold standard right now.”
Payton watched Brunson’s heroics firsthand at the Frost Bank Center Arena on Wednesday evening. Brunson fought through a scary knee injury that sent him to the locker room, then later twisted his ankle and grimaced in pain. Yet the gritty Knicks guard refused to back down. He rallied New York from a 14-point deficit, hitting step-back jumpers and slicing inside for clutch layups. With under two minutes left, he buried the dagger — a go-ahead bucket that sparked an 11-0 run to seal the win.
Now, the pressure is mounting. Can Brunson lead the Knicks to a championship and finally force his way past Curry and Edwards in Payton’s eyes? Fans and analysts are reportedly buzzing about what this could mean for Brunson’s legacy. “If he lifts that trophy, you’re talking about an all-time great run,” one longtime NBA observer noted. “Payton might have to revise his list.”
For now, the gauntlet has been thrown. Brunson may have silenced doubters in Game 1, but according to one of the game’s all-time greats, he still has work to do to reach the summit.
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