The New York Knicks have become one of the elite teams in the Eastern Conference since Jalen Brunson became the face of the franchise. When Brunson arrived for the 2022-23 season, he elevated the Knicks from 11th place in 2021-22 to the fifth seed in 2023.
Since then, Brunson and the Knicks have not looked back, reaching the 2025 Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since the 2000 NBA Playoffs. While Brunson has undoubtedly established himself as one of the league’s brightest stars, a former four-time All-Star believes New York will not win with him as the primary option.
DeMarcus Cousins Questions Whether Jalen Brunson’s Style Leads to Wins
Brunson is one of the most talented guards in the league. He has a knack for scoring, which has helped the Knicks win several games over the last four seasons he has played with the team.
Known for his isolation-heavy play, Brunson is averaging 28.1 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds. While those numbers look strong on paper, former four-time All-Star DeMarcus Cousins believes Brunson’s style is not enough to deliver championships in New York.
On a recent episode of “Run It Back,” Cousins expressed his reservations about Brunson’s isolation play. While the big man acknowledged that it can win games, he said it falls short of the ultimate goal.
“Obviously, your best player is Jalen Brunson,” Cousins said. “But you’re not going to win games with an unathletic, undersized, ISO guard that only finds shots for himself.
“It’s a playing style that needs to be addressed. You have one part of the puzzle piece playing at a high level. What about everybody else in the puzzle? I think this question has already been answered a thousand times. I think we’ve seen it a thousand times. … ISO basketball will win you games, it won’t win you a championship.”
Boogie Cousins does NOT hold back on Jalen Brunson & the Knicks 😬
“You’re not gonna win games with an unathletic, undersized, ISO guard that only finds shots for himself.”@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @ChandlerParsons | @TeamLou23 pic.twitter.com/zsgZBqDhrc
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 19, 2026
Brunson had 22 points Monday in a 114-97 home loss to the Dallas Mavericks, but he shot just 9 of 24 (37.5%). It was a wire-to-wire win for Dallas, which led by as many as 30. The Knicks lost their fourth straight game and ninth in 11.
While doubts about Brunson’s style continue to surface, the Knicks are 24-14 this season with Jalen Brunson in the lineup. Without him, the Knicks have stumbled to a 1-4 record.
