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Jalen Brunson was the New York Knicks' best player during the 2026 championship run. As the man to lead the Knicks to their first title in 52 years, Brunson has already achieved legendary status across all of the city's boroughs.
Even former United States President Barack Obama appreciates what Brunson has done for New York City. Obama himself is an avid basketball fan, so it was clear that Brunson's success was on his radar for a long while.
Barack Obama believes Jalen Brunson will forever be a New York legend
Obama is quite familiar with a basketball player being a legend in the city where they succeeded. The former president lived in Chicago for a long time, enough to consider it his hometown.
Michael Jordan was and is still the Chicago Bulls' biggest legend, so he has received icon status over there. While Brunson is not as successful as Jordan, he will be a legendary figure in New York long after he retires.
MORE: What to know about the Knicks' visit to the White House after their 2026 title
Obama's basketball fandom is well-documented, so him talking about Brunson is not a surprise. Doing it on a platform hosted by basketball players is once again not a problem.
"Let me tell you, I know he’ll never have to pay for a meal again in New York. He’s the king of New York," Obama said on All The Smoke.
Brunson has cemented himself as one of the very best the Knicks have to offer. They have had a shaky history after that championship 52 years ago, but thankfully for the fans, they are in a new era now, where they are one of the best teams in the league moving forward.
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