Kendrick Perkins says Jalen Brunson is the difference between the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers

Perkins feels Brunson can carry the team to the NBA Finals

During his NBA career, Kendrick Perkins played with plenty of top-tier talents, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Paul Pierce. All those players led their teams to the NBA Finals. Perkins knows what it takes for a superstar to lead their team to the promised land.

It is a challenging road, especially for a smaller guard like Brunson. Despite that, Perkins knows the Knicks could compete and possibly win the Eastern Conference. Perkins has even called the Knicks the best team in the East, which is a big claim, especially when the Cleveland Cavaliers want to redeem themselves.

Even if the Cavaliers had a strong campaign in the 2025-26 season, Perkins sees the improvements New York made in the offseason. That propelled them to the top of the East in his opinion.

“To me, they are the best team in the Eastern Conference. We know that the Celtics are somewhat in rebuild mode. The Cavs, I don’t trust them. I trust Big Body Brunson as the leader of that ball club,” Perkins said on ESPN’s NBA Today.

“They’ve addressed the issues that they needed to address. You go and you get some bench players who’re going to come in and play their role and still keep your entire core together.”

The Knicks have the tools to become the East’s best team

The 2025-26 campaign will be a challenging one for the Knicks, as they are playing against other top teams like the Cavaliers and the Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Milwaukee Bucks. New York has all the tools to become a top team, including Mike Brown, a coach with experience in being part of championships on the Golden State Warriors staff.

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Even the Boston Celtics, who do not have Jayson Tatum, will be a tough matchup. However, the Knicks should live up to expectations because they have gradually improved year after year. The 2025-26 season is their opportunity, and they must capitalize on it.

The Cavaliers are the biggest threat in the East. However, with players like Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, the Knicks have a deep squad. That could prove to be the winning formula, as they look to keep competing for the honor of being the East’s representative against the Western Conference.