Kendrick Perkins believes Jalen Brunson should be ranked ahead of Luka Doncic entering the 2026-27 NBA season after what the New York Knicks star accomplished during last season’s playoffs.

ESPN recently released its top 10 NBA players for the upcoming season, with Doncic ranked fourth and Brunson sixth. Nikola Jokic topped the list, followed by Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, while Giannis Antetokounmpo was fifth.

Perkins disagreed with the placement of Brunson behind Doncic, pointing specifically to Brunson’s postseason performance with the Knicks.

“Every year he gotta fight to prove his damn love. No way in hell that we can sit up here right now, and put Luka Doncic in front of Jalen Brunson after what he displayed last year in the postseason,” Perkins said on NBA Today.

Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973 during the 2026 playoffs. New York went 16-3 in the postseason, swept Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals and defeated San Antonio 4-1 in the NBA Finals.

The Knicks point guard averaged 26.0 points and 6.8 assists during the regular season, shooting 46.7% from the field, 36.9% from three-point range and 84.1% from the free-throw line. He was selected to the All-NBA Second Team and finished fifth in Clutch Player of the Year voting.

Doncic, meanwhile, averaged 33.5 points, 7.7 rebounds and 8.3 assists in 64 games for the Los Angeles Lakers. He shot 47.6% from the field and 36.6% from three-point range while earning All-NBA First Team honors and finishing fourth in MVP voting.

Perkins also pointed to Brunson’s consistency over a longer stretch.

“And if you want to take it a step further over the last three years, Jalen Brunson, in my eyes, has been the best player in the Eastern Conference consistently,” Perkins said. “Yes, because Giannis has been injured…but big body Brunson has been reliable.”

Brunson’s 2025-26 season marked his third consecutive campaign averaging at least 24 points and six assists. He has also made the All-Star team in each of the last three seasons and earned All-NBA recognition in two of them.

Perkins ultimately argued that Brunson’s standing among the league’s elite should be higher than sixth.

“I don’t know how we start this season without Jalen Brunson being in the top 5,” Perkins said.

ESPN’s top 10 also includes Anthony Edwards at No. 7, Cade Cunningham at No. 8, Jayson Tatum at No. 9 and Donovan Mitchell at No. 10.