New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson, who recently led his team to the NBA Cup finals with a massive 40-point game against the Orlando Magic, is tired of hearing one central idea: that the Eastern Conference is wide open.
While everyone agrees the Western Conference has strong, reliable contenders, the talk that the East lags or lacks top teams has clearly gotten under the skin of the Knicks’ star player.
Jalen Brunson Shared His Thoughts on Eastern Conference Wide Open Narrative
In a recent press conference, Brunson gave a thoughtful but firm response, stressing that the teams he faces every night are tough and competitive.
“I think when we are playing one conference versus the other, obviously it can have a little bit of bias. The West obviously has great teams, but the conversation about the East being wide open, I’m not a fan of that. There are too many great teams, great players regardless of who is out, they are still competing… the East is a lot better than people think and it’s a grind every night.”
Brunson’s argument holds weight, especially since he has been the main reason the Knicks have jumped to an 18-7 record this season.
He is challenging a narrative that is mainly based on the conference being unpredictable, rather than weak. The reality of the Eastern Conference is that it is packed with intense, close competition, partly due to strong, unexpected play from a few surprising teams and injuries to a few key stars.
The primary data point that supports the “wide open” idea is that no single team is running away with the standings, which actually highlights how tough the conference is. The Detroit Pistons are the surprise leaders at an impressive 20-5 (.800), thanks in part to an excellent 12-2 home record.
However, the difference between first place and the middle of the pack is tiny. Brunson’s Knicks (18-7) are right behind, followed closely by a group of competitive teams. These include the Boston Celtics (15-10), Orlando Magic (15-11), Toronto Raptors (15-11), and Miami Heat (14-11). All these teams are separated by just 3 to 5.5 games.
But traditional powers like the Milwaukee Bucks are struggling at 11-16, reinforcing Brunson’s point that there are too many great teams capable of winning on any given night. The Bucks’ slump, combined with the surge from teams like the Pistons and Raptors, means that more than eight teams are fighting hard for a spot in the playoffs or play-in tournament.
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The main reason people talk about the East being wide open is the serious injuries to two of the East’s best players, which created a power vacuum.
Jayson Tatum of the Celtics tore his Achilles tendon last May and is expected to miss most of this season. Celtics, without their superstar player who averages over 27 points per game, have dropped from a clear favorite to a good 15-10 team.
Likewise, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers also ruptured his Achilles in the Finals last season and is out for the whole 2025-26 season. His team is now 6-20 and is second-to-last in their division. While these injuries have changed the balance, Brunson argues they have not weakened the conference as a whole.
Instead, they have made the path harder for everyone else. Brunson’s own outstanding play, averaging 28.8 points and 6.4 assists per game on 48.7% shooting, demonstrates that teams with healthy, focused stars are well-equipped to thrive in this demanding environment. The Eastern Conference may be complicated and close, but as Brunson correctly points out, it is far from easy.
