Jalen Brunson is on top of the basketball world after leading the New York Knicks to the NBA championship in 2026, but his father, Rick Brunson, isn’t showing him as much love as you might expect. Rick, who is also an assistant coach for the Knicks, appeared on the Waddle & Silvy show recently, where he was asked who’d win a 1-on-1 game between Jalen and Derrick Rose in their primes.
“I’mma have to sub in and help Jalen,” Rick said. “That’s the baddest guy I’ve ever played with, coached. Derrick Rose is the best. My son and Derrick have an unbelievable relationship, but prime Derrick? Ain’t no way. No one was better than prime Derrick. Nobody. I mean, that’s me. Maybe I’m biased, but nobody.”
Rick, of course, was an assistant coach on the Chicago Bulls from 2010 to 2012. He saw Rose become the youngest MVP in NBA history in 2011, and is picking him over everybody, even his own son.
Rick was reminded here that Jalen scored 45 points in that closeout Game 5 over the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, but wasn’t changing his pick.
“How soon do we forget?” Rick said. “Because I’ve sat there when Derrick carried the Bulls to Miami. Obviously, we didn’t beat that. We didn’t get to the championship… [but] prime Derrick Rose? No, he’s the best that I’d ever seen as a point guard in this era.”
We’ll unfortunately never know how good Rose actually would have been in his prime, thanks to injuries. Rose tore his ACL in the 2012 playoffs when he was just 23 years old. He then tore his meniscus in his right knee in 2013, and the injury nightmare never quite ended.
All the injuries meant Rose’s best season was his third in the NBA. He averaged 25.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game in 2010-11, his MVP campaign.
Jalen has fortunately avoided the injury bug and is thriving today. The 29-year-old averaged 26.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.1 blocks per game in 2025-26. He has now put up 26.3 points and 6.8 assists per game in his Knicks career.
As for a 1-on-1 match in their primes, Rose would have the advantage in terms of athleticism. He was lightning quick and fairly strong as well. Jalen is the more complete scorer, though. He is especially a far better shooter than Rose was at his best. Considering the contrasting styles, it’s hard to say who would have won.
If you ask Jalen, he probably wouldn’t choose himself. He once picked Rose over even Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic. These two had forged a relationship when Rick was with the Bulls, and would later become teammates on the Knicks. Jalen sees Rose as a mentor and role model. He is humble as is, and you’d imagine this is one individual he wouldn’t mind picking over himself.
Getting back to Rick, he wanted everyone to pump the brakes after Jalen ended the Knicks’ 53-year title drought. The guard was being talked about as potentially being the greatest player in franchise history, but his father disagreed.
Rick made it clear that his former teammate, Patrick Ewing, is the greatest Knick ever in his eyes. It was a bit surprising just how dismissive he was.
Rick then later explained that Jalen only playing four seasons with the Knicks is why he isn’t putting his son on top. Once the three-time All-Star plays another seven years for the franchise, he’s willing to revisit the question.
Jalen probably needs to be with the Knicks a bit longer before we call him their greatest player. What he has done in this short period of time is remarkable, though, and it’s no wonder New Yorkers love him so much.
