‘Jalen Brunson is better than Luka Doncic’ take leaves NBA veteran in spot of bother

Raymond Felton was put to the sword by NBA Twitter for claiming Jalen Brunson is currently better than Luka Doncic.

‘Jalen Brunson is better than Luka Doncic’ take leaves NBA veteran in spot of bother

Luka Doncic, Jalen Brunson (Images via Instagram)

Jalen Brunson has become perhaps the most well-loved person in New York after signing yet another team-friendly deal. He is currently on a hot streak, having won the Jerry West Clutch Player of the Year award. Brunson has also hit some big shots in the playoffs, adding to his legacy. What he’s done with the Knicks has taken him above the likes of Luka Doncic in some players’ eyes.

Former NBA point guard Raymond Felton was recently a guest with Theo Pinson on his Tidal League podcast. The former Mavericks guard seems to believe that Jalen Brunson has entered a different conversation from Luka Doncic. He cited Brunson’s performances in the past two playoff series as proof of his rankings.

And I know some of y’all may think I’m rolling crazy, but I’m rolling with him before Luka…He’s on the biggest stage in New York City, and he’s doing it, he’s winning. What he did that last game vs Detroit, that shot was insane. And what he’s done in the last 2 games in Boston, he’s hitting big shots against high level defenders.

Raymond Felton argued

Theo Pinson and the other hosts around Felton spoke quickly in order to quell the notion. Pinson, who has shared locker rooms with both these players and been deep in the playoffs, remarked that Felton’s take was completely based on recency bias and on putting what Doncic has done in the past on the back burner.

Imma tell you this right now. We’re not having this conversation if Luka and them hadn’t been out. He would still be in the playoffs. I’ve said it before. The only reason we’re in this conversation is because the way we operate as humans, we are so in the now, we forget what the f*** these guys have done.

Theo Pinson remarked in response to Raymond Felton

It is relevant to note that despite playing a game with a stomach bug, Doncic averaged over 30 points per game against an elite Timberwolves defense. He hung 30 points on Minnesota in four out of five games and outscored Anthony Edwards, who many believe has moved past Doncic as the better NBA player. Jalen Brunson, meanwhile, has had two poor shooting games against Boston despite hitting clutch shots.

NBA fans roast Raymond Felton for calling Jalen Brunson better than Luka Doncic

Brunson and Doncic were both members of the same draft class. While Doncic was a No. 3 pick (and was in contention for No. 1), Brunson had a more unfamiliar path to NBA stardom. He was selected as the last pick of the first round by the Mavericks, and he was a specialist sixth man at first. It was only after making it to New York that he became a de facto no. 1 option on a playoff team.

It wasn’t until the 2024-25 season that anyone could entertain the notion of Brunson being the better player. Even this past year, Brunson has not had better stats – he’s only been more present than Doncic, who dealt with multiple injuries and illnesses in the past year. The prevailing notion among basketball fans is that Doncic is a younger and better player. This is exactly what NBA Twitter said in response to Felton’s comments.

Brunson has won a playoff series each in both of his past 2 seasons with New York. He has the ability to make the NBA Finals alongside the right roster before long. However, there is no way he can legitimately be called a better NBA player than Luka Doncic.

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