Knicks legend Walt Frazier chooses 7x NBA All-Star ahead of Jalen Brunson as franchise GOATÂ
Before becoming a TV broadcaster for the team, Walt Frazier enjoyed a decade-long run with the New York Knicks from 1967-1977. As the franchise enters a new era, the Hall of Fame guard shared his thoughts on who the franchise's GOAT is.
On Friday morning, Fraizer joined the "Run It Back" show on FanDuel TV to discuss a range of topics. Among the things brought up was people already claiming that Jalen Brunson is the best player to ever suit up for the Knicks.
Frazier has no problems with Brunson but feels it's too early to make such a bold claim. He later crowned Willis Reed as the best in Knicks history.
"My greatest Knick is Willis Reed," Frazier said. "I learned from the captain. He was tenacious the way he played the game."
"Willis says Patrick [Ewing], and Patrick says Patrick."
Reed spent his entire career with the Knicks after getting drafted 10th overall in 1964. He went on to become a seven-time All-Star and delivered the franchise's two championships. He also won Finals MVP on both occasions.
Reed only played in the league for a decade, with his career halted by an injury in 1975. In 1982, the Knicks legend was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Walt Frazier believes Jalen Brunson could become one of the best Knicks players ever
While Walt Frazier might have pumped the breaks on the Jalen Brunson hype, that doesn't mean he isn't confident in his abilities. When he talked about the best New York players ever, he said that the All-Star guard is on the right path.
Frazier also brought up the fact that Brunson was named captain, something the team hasn't done in over five years. He then discussed the similar qualities of Brunson and Willis Reed.
"He's got a long way to go," Frazier said. "I think Brunson has some of the same qualities. Tenacious work ethic, he's always sharing, caring, and team-oriented, team first. He reminds me a lot of Willis Reed."
Since joining the Knicks from the Dallas Mavericks in 2022, Brunson has emerged as a superstar-level talent. He averaged 28.7 points and 6.7 assists last season and led New York to the second round of the playoffs. Brunson has yielded a lot of positive results in his short time with the franchise but still has a ways to go to catch the all-time greats.
This season, Brunson has a good opportunity to cement himself as one of the best to play for the Knicks. Following a strong offseason, New York has the pieces to contend for a championship. If Brunson can lead them to a deep run, he'll certainly climb up the all-time rankings in franchise history.