Perkins: Brunson Belongs Above Doncic
Former NBA star Kendrick Perkins argues Jalen Brunson deserves a top-five ranking ahead of Luka Doncic entering the 2026/27 season.
Kendrik Perkins, the former NBA player turned television pundit, has ranked Jalen Brunson above Luka Doncic heading into the 2026/27 season.
"Every year Brunson has to fight to prove his worth. We just cannot, under any circumstances, sit here and rank Luka Doncic above Jalen Brunson after what Brunson showed in the last play-offs. And going further than that, over the last three years Jalen Brunson has, in my opinion, been the most consistent and the best player in the Eastern Conference. Yes, because Giannis was injured, but tough guy Brunson was always reliable. I do not understand at all how we can start this season without including Jalen Brunson in the league's top five."
ESPN's ranking of the best NBA players for the 2026/27 season placed Brunson, of the New York Knicks, 6th, with Doncic, of the Los Angeles Lakers, at number 4.
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