It was no surprise that Spree won last week’s matchup against Kenny Walker by a landslide. This week’s matchup pits the past against the present, presenting a much more intriguing and debatable matchup between Richie Guerin and Jalen Brunson.
If the true Knick historians who really know their Knicks history turn out to vote, they could give Guerin the edge. After all, the six-time All-Star led the Knicks in scoring and assists for four straight seasons, two feats that Brunson has yet to do. Guerin’s career highs of 57 points and 21 assists also remain unmatched by Brunson.
However, as the Knicks’ captain and leader for the past three seasons, Brunson has the advantage of familiarity. The majority of our readers who have never seen or heard of Guerin are likely to vote for the current star, making this week’s segment a true Who Really Wore It Best debate.
Antonio Losada
#9 Richie Guerin — There wasn’t much debate amongst our readers over WWIB #9. Guerin won by a landslide over RJ Barrett and Pablo Prigioni, with 72% of the 112 votes. Guerin was originally drafted by the Knicks in 1954. Guerin went on to become a 6x All-Star and a member of the All-NBA second team three times.
More honorable than any on-court accomplishment were the two years of service Guerin was required to finish with the Marines prior to being allowed to join the Knicks in 1956.
Richie Guerin Action Portrait Photo by NBA Photo Library/NBAE via Getty Images
Guerin emerged as one of the Knicks’ few constants during a period of frequent roster changes. He earned his first All-Star selection in just his second season, beginning a streak of six consecutive appearances. In 1958, he not only led the team in assists but also set a franchise record with 21 assists in a single game, a mark that stood for 50 years until Chris Duhon surpassed it with 22 in 2008. To this day, Guerin remains second on the Knicks’ all-time single-game assists leaderboard.
Guerin wasn’t only a phenomenal passer; he was also a remarkable shooter, once scoring 57 points in a single game. This high-scoring affair in 1958 stood as another Knicks record until Bernard King’s 60-point outburst in 1984. Guerin remains fourth on the Knicks’ all-time list of single-game scoring performances, in addition to becoming the first Knick to ever score 2,000 points in a single season.
#11 Jalen Brunson — WWIB #11 featured one of our deepest lists of star players fans could vote on, and it was one of the most voted on numbers out of the entire series. Pitted up against Jamal Crawford, Harry Gallatin, Derek Harper, Rod Strickland, and Bob McAdoo, Brunson received 56% of the 196 votes.
Since Who Really Wore It Best #11 was first released in January 2024, Brunson has only strengthened his already impressive résumé. He has earned two All-Star selections, solidified his role as team captain, and made the selfless decision to take a pay cut to help the organization build a stronger roster around him.
New York Knicks v Los Angeles Lakers Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images
Since joining the team in 2022, Brunson has become the face of a franchise looking to reach its first Finals appearance this millennium and capture its first championship since 1973. Over the past two-and-a-half years as a Knick, Brunson has averaged 22.3 points and 6.2 assists per game. Last season, he averaged a career-high 29 points and finished 5th in MVP voting.
Along with Josh Hart, the two “Roommates” helped lead the Knicks to back-to-back Eastern Conference Semifinals appearances, coming within just one game of the Conference Finals last season. As the current 3rd seed in the East, the Knicks, with Brunson at the helm, look to surpass last season’s disappointing finish and earn their first ECF appearance since 1999.
I know most will lean toward voting for Brunson—it’s hard not to, as Brunson is the Knicks' current leader, and many readers are too young to have parents who have seen Guerin play. But when you place the two side by side and compare their numbers and career accomplishments, in my humble opinion, the edge goes to Guerin.
If others share a similar sentiment, we could see a strong contender for the Great Debate Finals get knocked out in the first round.
Poll
Who Really Wore it Best?
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#9 Richie Guerin
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#11 Jalen Brunson
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