July 16, 2026, New York, New York, USA: New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson during Fanatics Fest at the Jacob Javitz Center on Thursday, July 16, 2026 New York, New York, USA. New York USA - ZUMAs325 20260716_zsp_s325_064 Copyright: xJessxStilesx
July 16, 2026, New York, New York, USA: New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson during Fanatics Fest at the Jacob Javitz Center on Thursday, July 16, 2026 New York, New York, USA. New York USA - ZUMAs325 20260716_zsp_s325_064 Copyright: xJessxStilesx
Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas questioned Jalen Brunson’s superstar status, asking if anyone has ever "bought Jalen Brunson shoes" to prove his point about commercial appeal.
"No, but he could be," Arenas said in response to whether Jalen Brunson is a superstar. "You got the Jalen Brunson shoes? Did you go get the new Jalen Brunson shoes? You don't have him, right?"
Arenas explained his point by noting that Brunson lacks a Nike signature shoe. He considers a signature line a threshold for superstardom, following in the footsteps of legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and the late Kobe Bryant.
New York Knicks v San Antonio Spurs - NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Finals NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JUNE 8: Jalen Brunson 11 of the New York Knicks and Victor Wembanyama 1 of San Antonio Spurs in action during the National Basketball Association NBA finals game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the Madison Square Garden in New York, United States on June 8, 2026. Celal Gunes / Anadolu New York United States. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any other usage. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxTURxUSAxCANxUKxJPNxITAxFRAxAUSxESPxBELxKORxRSAxHKGxNZL Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxCelalxGunesx
New York Knicks v San Antonio Spurs - NBA, Basketball Herren, USA Finals NEW YORK, UNITED STATES - JUNE 8: Jalen Brunson 11 of the New York Knicks and Victor Wembanyama 1 of San Antonio Spurs in action during the National Basketball Association NBA finals game between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at the Madison Square Garden in New York, United States on June 8, 2026. Celal Gunes / Anadolu New York United States. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any other usage. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxTURxUSAxCANxUKxJPNxITAxFRAxAUSxESPxBELxKORxRSAxHKGxNZL Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxCelalxGunesx
"No matter how many MVPs you win, you're not going to be that guy as a superstar. It's just, can you sell product?" said Arenas on the Gil's Arena podcast. "I studied what it takes to be a superstar. So I know what they're looking for."
Instead of launching a signature sneaker, the 2026 Finals MVP chose to be a torchbearer for Kobe Bryant's line. He also wore them during the NBA Finals.
On that stage, Brunson led the Knicks to a 4-1 series victory, ending the franchise's 53-year championship drought dating back to 1973.
Despite playing through an injury during the Finals, he persevered to secure the title. And now that Brunson has undergone surgery, he aims for another NBA championship.
Jalen Brunson isn't willing to stop with just one NBA championship
We saw the determination from Brunson in the 2025-26 NBA Finals, when he played through a tendon injury on his left wrist, averaging 32.6 points, 4.6 assists, 4.2 rebounds, and 2 steals per game, with the Knicks winning the series 4-1.
Now that Brunson has undergone surgery and is in a cast for about six weeks, he is determined to return to next season with the same ambition.
"Oh, I still have confidence," Brunson said at Variety’s inaugural Sports & Entertainment Studio in New York. "Not because we won, because I know the type of character guys that we have. I know how hard my team works. I know how hard I work...yes, we did win this past year, going forward that literally means nothing."
While Arenas thinks Brunson is still not cut out to be called a superstar, Brunson aims to achieve more greatness. Will Arenas change his mind about Brunson in the future?
Read more at the Air Jordan Chronicles!
Written by
Dhruv Singh
Edited by
Shubhi Rathore