NBA MVP Power Rankings: Major shakeup in top three after first round of playoffs

4. Jalen Brunson

Last rank: 6

Since Julius Randle has been sidelined since January 27 with a shoulder dislocation, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson has emerged as a superstar in the NBA. When Brunson signed with the Knicks in the summer of 2022 offseason, fans never expected the former Villanova guard to emerge as one of the best point guards to wear a Knicks jersey.

Brunson has only gotten better since March and in the playoffs, he proved every doubter wrong. Brunson dazzled with multiple 40-point games against the 76ers and even matched an unbreakable Michael Jordan record.

Brunson left no doubt on the table against the Sixers and fans of basketball have quickly realized that despite Brunson's physical limitations he has emerged as one of the best point guards in the NBA. It's still unclear if Brunson can keep this up for a full 82 games on top of playoffs but there is no reason to believe Brunson won't live up to the hype.

With the Knicks playing the Indiana Pacers in the second round, there's a good shot we could see a rematch of old rivals in the Eastern Conference Finals with the Celtics and Knicks once again facing off.

If fans are granted with this historic matchup, the Knicks will need all of Brunson's playmaking and scoring in a seven-game series. This is arguably the best shot that New York has had at making the NBA Finals since their last championship run in the early 2000s.