NEW YORK — Jalen Brunson’s snub from the All-NBA First Team—for the second consecutive season—is no longer just a difference of opinion; it is an anomaly that defies the reality of winning basketball.
Jalen Brunson’s Snub Exposes The Media’s Blatant Bias Against Small Guards
Despite leading the New York Knicks to a historic 10-game postseason win streak and bringing the franchise to within one win of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999, Brunson was once again “relegated” to the Second Team. As the Knicks continue their year-over-year ascent (Semis in ’24, Conference Finals in ’25, and now a 3-0 lead in the ’26 ECF), the question is why the “small guy” from Villanova is overlooked in favor of the league’s taller stars.
The disparity between Brunson’s impact and his accolades is staggering. Over a three-season run from 2023 to 2026, Brunson is the major reason why this Knicks team has won 154 regular-season games. Yet, during that same span, he has managed a measly 143 total MVP points. This season was the most egregious; despite a season where he effectively ended the “Donovan Mitchell vs. Jalen Brunson” debate by putting Cleveland on the brink of an ECF sweep, Brunson received zero MVP votes and zero First Team All-NBA votes.
The Mitchell Myth And The Reality Of Winning
For two seasons, national pundits have attempted to place Donovan Mitchell on a pedestal above Jalen Brunson. But with the Knicks sitting on a 3-0 lead in the Conference Finals, can anyone say with a straight face that Mitchell has been better at any point over the last two years? Not a chance.
Since 2023, the Knicks have bowed out in the Semis, then the Conference Finals, and now sit one win from the NBA Finals. This linear rise is tied directly to Brunson’s growth as a leader. There is a reason Brunson walked away with the Clutch Player of the Year award last year. While others fade under the playoff lights, Brunson’s efficiency stays locked at a 50/40/90 pace when the game is on the line.
The “Smaller Guy” Narrative: Suffering From Success
At some point, we have to address the bias: Jalen Brunson’s snub feeds into the exhausted narrative that you simply “can’t win” with a 6’2″ guard as your primary engine. Voters treat his brilliance too casually, while taller, flashier guards are handed First Team honors.
New York’s well-oiled machine runs so well because of Jalen Brunson and his willingness to adapt to whatever the coaching staff needs from him. Over the last three seasons, he has maintained an elite offensive load (98th percentile) while keeping his turnovers lower than almost any high-usage star in the league. He is a tactical surgeon who has effectively broken the Eastern Conference’s defensive schemes for three straight years, proving that size is irrelevant when your basketball IQ is off the charts.
Final Verdict: The Finals Are The Only Ballot That Matters
Ultimately, the 2026 ballot will be remembered as the moment the voters missed the forest for the trees. While most of the league’s “First Teamers” watch from home, Brunson is one win away from doing what hasn’t been done in Manhattan for nearly thirty years. The “small guy” is one win away from the NBA Finals, and no amount of voting points can take that away from him.
Credit:© David Richard-Imagn Images
