When I asked who the better signing was between Jalen Brunson and Allen Houston, I want to clarify that I’m not trying to offend anyone. This is sports, and a little controversy is part of the game. Also, remember that Amare Stoudemire could have easily been part of this conversation, but injuries derailed his career with the Knicks.
History
In July 1996, Allen Houston signed with the New York Knicks as a free agent. His rookie contract had just expired with the Detroit Pistons, and Patrick Ewing called and asked if he was interested in joining the Knicks. Allen accepted the invitation and played nine seasons for New York.
Impact
When Houston joined the Knicks, he took over the starting position from John Starks. His presence on the court improved New York’s spacing, as opposing teams could no longer double-team Patrick Ewing. Defensively, Houston also provided the Knicks with a guard who could effectively contest Reggie Miller’s shots. Before Houston arrived in New York, Reggie Miller’s height advantage over John Starks sometimes hurt the Knicks. However, Houston was never as impactful for the Knicks as Brunson is now.
The New York Knicks cannot succeed without Jalen Brunson, whereas the same isn’t true for the Houston Rockets. The Knicks had already reached the NBA Finals two years before Houston joined the team. Additionally, it’s clear that Allen Houston did not draw other free agents to the Knicks, while Brunson has helped attract players like Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo to the team.
The bottom line is that Jalen Brunson is the superior signing for the Knicks. He is the best player on the team, whereas Allen Houston was either the second or third option. Although Houston was a great addition for the Knicks, he simply doesn’t compare to Jalen Brunson.
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