The New York Knicks are up 2-0 in the NBA Finals heading into Monday night’s Game 3. As the Knicks eye an all-but-insurmountable three-game lead in the series, talks are starting to be had on where a Finals win would put star Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson in the annals of history.
Many feel that a victory would unquestionably give Brunson an argument as the greatest Knick of all time, as the franchise hasn’t won an NBA title since 1973. However, one of sports media’s biggest voices, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon, is hesitant to put Brunson in the same group of some of the NBA’s all-time greats, at least in terms of him as a competitor.
“Kobe had a ruthlessness that was shared with very few players in my observation,” Wilbon said on Monday’s episode of _First Take._ “Bird, Jordan, Kobe. Idk if I put anyone else in that group. LeBron is a nicer guy than that. I don’t put LeBron in that group in terms of ruthlessness. I don’t put Jalen Brunson in it. Not yet.”
> Michael Wilbon doesn’t see the Jalen Brunson and Kobe Bryant comparisons:
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> “Kobe had a ruthlessness that was shared with very few players in my observation. Bird, Jordan, Kobe. Idk if I put anyone else in that group. LeBron is a nicer guy than that. I don’t put LeBron in that… [pic.twitter.com/zH9LdUU5Fk](https://t.co/zH9LdUU5Fk)
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> — NBA Courtside (@NBA\_\_Courtside) [June 8, 2026](https://x.com/NBA__Courtside/status/2063993338882072609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
For what it’s worth, Brunson has seemed to take a Bryant-esque approach to the Finals. Even refusing to take any promotional photos with the Larry O’Brien trophy ahead of actually winning the most coveted hardware in basketball.
Perhaps a sweep in the Finals would be enough to show Wilbon that Brunson is as ruthless a competitor as anyone.