Former NBA Champ Claims Brunson Hurting Knicks Locker Room

Danny Green says Jalen Brunson's high usage is causing chemistry issues in New York

Apr. 19, 2026 at 12:04am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a basketball game, with the players' forms broken down into sharp, overlapping shapes in a palette of deep blues, greens, and oranges, conveying the fragmented nature of the Knicks' team dynamics.Tensions within the Knicks' locker room threaten to derail their playoff hopes, as the team struggles to find cohesion amidst Jalen Brunson's dominant role.Boston Today

Former NBA champion Danny Green made a bold claim that the New York Knicks have locker room issues stemming from Jalen Brunson's dominant role in the offense. Green said there are 'rumblings' that some Knicks players are unhappy with Brunson's high usage and coach Mike Brown's handling of the team's chemistry.

Why it matters

The Knicks were expected to be a top contender in the East this season, but Green's comments suggest there may be internal turmoil that could derail their playoff hopes. Brunson's emergence as the team's go-to scorer has come at the expense of other players, which could create tension in the locker room.

The details

Green, who won an NBA title with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, said the Knicks 'looked disconnected' and that 'the chemistry wasn't there' late in the regular season. He claimed some players are unhappy with Brunson's high usage and don't like working with coach Mike Brown. Green believes these issues could cause the Knicks to 'self-implode' in the playoffs.

  • The Knicks are currently the fourth favorite on betting sites to make the NBA Finals behind Boston, Detroit, and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
  • The Knicks lost a lot of confidence from pundits during the regular season and must prove everyone wrong to accomplish their goal of reaching the NBA Finals.

The players

Danny Green

A retired NBA player who won a championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

Jalen Brunson

The Knicks' starting point guard who has emerged as the team's go-to scorer this season.

Mike Brown

The Knicks' first-year head coach who has faced criticism for his handling of the team's chemistry and Brunson's role.

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What they’re saying

“Simply because the fact that the Knicks this year, especially late in the season, they looked very up-and-down. They looked like they were disconnected; the chemistry wasn't there.”

— Danny Green, Former NBA Champion

“There are rumblings about some guys don't like Mike Brown or work with the coaches. There are rumblings that some guys are feeling they're not getting touches or there's over usage of Jalen Brunson. That seems to me like a team that could self-implode.”

— Danny Green, Former NBA Champion

What’s next

The Knicks must prove the NBA world wrong in the playoffs, as they are currently the fourth favorite to make the Finals behind the Celtics, Pistons, and Cavaliers. A likely second-round matchup with Boston will be a tough test, and the Knicks will have to pull off an upset similar to last season to advance.

The takeaway

Green's comments highlight the potential chemistry issues within the Knicks' locker room, with Brunson's dominant role and Brown's coaching style causing frustration among some players. The Knicks will need to resolve these internal conflicts if they hope to make a deep playoff run and silence the doubters.