9. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
When the New York Knicks signed Jalen Brunson last offseason, many were split on the move. Some believed it was a massive overpay while there was also a section of fans that were sold on the idea of him as a star worth building around. The latter ended up being right. During his first season with the Knicks, Brunson averaged 24 points and six assists per game on 49 percent shooting from the field and 42 percent shooting from 3-point range.
He also helped lead the Knicks to the second round of the playoffs. They ended up being a piece or two away from making a run to the Eastern Conference Finals, but they proved they were very much on the right track. You can argue that the signing of Brunson ended up changing the entire trajectory of the franchise.
Heading into 2023-24, Brunson is viewed as one of the better point guards in the league. And it’ll be interesting to see how he continues to not only improve as an individual player but also how he positively impacts the Knicks as a whole.
Brunson has completely changed the outlook for the Knicks franchise. That move ended up being an absolute home run.