From Starks’ Swagger to Brunson’s Blueprint: Why Jalen Brunson Is the Greatest Free Agent Signing in Knicks History
Different eras, same New York attitude — how Brunson is redefining what it means to lead the Knicks. Photo Credit: Nathaniel S. Butler, NBAE Via Getty Images Alright, Knicks Nation — the list is clean. No trades. No draft picks. Pure free agent signings only.
And now we’re adding a VERY important detail to the Amar’e chapter because history matters.
Let’s run it back properly and explain why Jalen Brunson still stands at the top.
1. Jalen Brunson (signed 2022)
When Brunson signed in 2022, national media treated it like the Knicks just panic-bought groceries before a snowstorm.
Now? He’s…
● a 25–30 PPG playoff scorer
● all-NBA caliber
● elite in clutch situations
● the most reliable Knicks point guard in decades
But here’s the real reason he’s #1:
He has changed the psychological wiring of the franchise.
The modern NBA is ruthless:
● with switch-heavy defenses
● with deep talent pools
● with guards hunted defensively
● with analytics shaping every possession
And at 6 '1, Brunson dominates with footwork, patience, angles, and pure basketball IQ. He didn’t need to recruit a savior. He became one.
Photo Credit: Noah Murray, NJ Advance Media
Bernard King (Signed 1982)
Bernard was an 80s scoring volcano:
● 4 straight 25+ PPG seasons
● 1984 scoring champion
● 60-point MSG explosion
● Hall of Famer
In an isolation-heavy era, he was elite. But those Knicks teams weren’t championship threats, and injuries shortened the run.
Brunson’s greatness is tied directly to sustained playoff success in a much deeper league.
Amar'e Stoudemire (signed 2010)
This one needs context. When Amar’e signed in 2010, the Knicks were wandering the basketball desert with flip-flops and no map.
His first season:
● 26 PPG
● MVP buzz
● 9 straight 30-point games
● an electrified Madison Square Garden
But here’s the BIG part people forget:
Amar’e helped draw Carmelo Anthony to New York.
His arrival made the Knicks relevant again.
He gave the franchise credibility.
He showed the league that New York wasn’t a basketball graveyard.
WithoutAmar’e’s early dominance, does Melo push for the trade to New York? That’s debatable.
Looking back, Amar’e reopened the door. But injuries got the door stuck again.
Brunson didn’t just reopen the door: He is rebuilding the house.
Allan Houston (signed 1996)
Houston’s jumper was pure silk in the most physical era of basketball.
● a key piece of 1999 Finals run
● a clutch Miami shot that still echoes
● an elite mid-range scorer in a defensive war era
The 90s Knicks were built on toughness.
Yes, Houston was a star, but he wasn’t the franchise’s engine.
Brunson is.
John Starks (signed 1990)
Starks was Knicks grit — personified.
● a 1994 All-Star
● an emotional heartbeat of a Finals team
● the Dunk-over-Jordan legend
● a Fearless competitor
He embodied 90s edge, but he was volatility mixed with brilliance.
Instead, Brunson is brilliance mixed with control — a different level of stability.
Era Difficulty Matters
1980s – Bernard King
Less spacing. Fewer teams. More isolation.
1990s – Houston & Starks
Hand-checking allowed. Slower pace. Defensive slugfests.
2010s – Amar’e
Superteam era. LeBron dominates East.
2020s – Brunson
● Deepest talent pool ever
● International MVPs everywhere
● Switch-everything defenses
● Guards hunted constantly
Brunson thrives as the primary engine, and that's rare.
Hall of Fame Outlook
Player Hall of Fame?
Bernard King
Allan Houston
Amar’e Stoudemire
John Starks
Jalen Brunson (building a case)
If Brunson stacks more All-NBA seasons, leads us to a Finals run, and helps us win a championship, then we’re not debating the best free agent signing. We’re debating where he ranks among ALL-TIME Knicks.
Other signings gave us
● King → scoring brilliance
● Houston → clutch smoothness
● Amar’e → hope & credibility
● Starks → edge and emotion
But Brunson?
He gave us structure.
He ended the point guard chaos.
He elevated teammates.
He embraced New York’s pressure.
And most importantly?
He made Knicks fans stop hoping — and start expecting.
That’s culture change. That’s franchise change. That’s why he’s #1.