Jalen Brunson may have helped bring an NBA championship back to New York, but he has no interest in wearing the city’s crown.
The New York Knicks star is firmly rejecting the “King of New York” title that city officials recently bestowed upon him following the franchise’s historic championship run.
Appearing on the “Road Trippin’” podcast with Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye and Kendrick Perkins, Brunson addressed the growing buzz around his status in New York — and made one thing clear.
“I’ve never called myself the king of New York. I will never call myself the king of New York,” Brunson said.
The three-time All-Star explained that calling himself a king would come across as arrogant and self-centered.
“You guys are going to look like, ‘What the fuck, this dude is so self-centered,’” he said.
The nickname has nevertheless gained serious momentum around City Hall.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani officially declared Brunson “the king” during a city-sponsored youth event at Inwood Hill Park on Aug. 28. Mamdani had previously presented Brunson with the Keys to the City during the Knicks’ championship celebrations in June.
The recognition followed a historic season for Brunson and the Knicks.
New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to capture the franchise’s first NBA championship in 53 years, with Brunson earning Finals MVP honors.
The 30-year-old guard averaged 32.6 points and 4.6 assists during the Finals, including a 45-point performance in the championship-clinching Game 5.
That run has placed Brunson among the latest New York sports icons, with comparisons to legendary figures such as Derek Jeter and Eli Manning.
But Brunson appears far more interested in what comes next than in celebrating what already happened.
The Knicks are heading into the 2026-27 season with a chance to become the first NBA team to win consecutive championships since the Golden State Warriors did it in 2018.
Brunson said the team is deliberately trying to leave the championship celebration behind.
“We don’t want to speak of the trophy, we don’t talk about the trophy, we don’t want to see the trophy,” he said.
The Knicks star also believes the defending champions need to approach the new season with an even tougher mentality to avoid becoming complacent.
That mindset stands in contrast to the celebration still happening across New York, where “Knick-mania” remains in full force — even inspiring a recent Mayor Mamdani look-alike contest in Washington Square Park.
Brunson, however, appears determined to keep the focus where he believes it belongs: on basketball.
New York can call him king if it wants. Brunson just does not plan on saying it himself.
