Being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame is the ultimate honor for any NBA superstar—and the Knicks stars’ recent history shows it’s not easy. Just look at Carmelo Anthony, who was recently enshrined as part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class after a remarkable 19-year career as one of the league’s most prolific scorers.
Now the question is: which current Knicks stars could follow in Melo’s footsteps?
Karl-Anthony Towns: Close, But Not There Yet
At 29, Karl-Anthony Towns is arguably the Knicks’ most accomplished player. The former No. 1 overall pick in 2015 has racked up impressive accolades:
- 5× NBA All-Star
- 3× All-NBA selections
- 2015-16 NBA Rookie of the Year
But is that enough for Hall of Fame induction?
ESPN’s Zach Kram weighs in:
“He’s a 7-footer with a 40% career 3-point stroke, and he’s one of only 22 players in league history with career averages of 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds per game.”
That’s elite company—but there are still gaps.
“On the downside, Towns’ hardware, which consists of a Rookie of the Year trophy, five All-Star selections and three third-team All-NBA nods, isn’t yet at the Hall of Fame standard, and his playoff record is lacking. Taken all together, it seems Towns needs a few more strong seasons to reach lock territory. Boosting the Knicks to the Finals would certainly help.”
In short, an NBA Finals run seems key to turning Towns into a Hall of Famer.
Jalen Brunson: A Long Road Ahead
The Knicks’ other potential Hall of Famer? Jalen Brunson, who has steadily risen since joining New York in 2022. Since the move, he’s averaged:
- 26.4 points
- 3.4 rebounds
- 6.7 assists per game
But age and accomplishments matter. At 29, and with only 2× All-Star and All-NBA nods, Brunson still has some work to do.
“Brunson is the group’s newest riser, a late bloomer with All-Star selections and top-10 MVP finishes in the past two seasons. The Knicks captain has a long way to go,” Kram noted.
“He’s still shy of 10,000 career points, but he’s on the upswing, and like Towns, he could make giant strides this season if he can propel the Knicks to the Finals through a shallow Eastern Conference.”
The 2026 Finals Could Make or Break HOF Chances
For both Towns and Brunson, reaching the 2026 NBA Finals might be the key to cementing their Hall of Fame cases. But to get there, they’ll need to improve chemistry and maximize their potential in the upcoming season.
The Knicks’ duo has the talent—now it’s about results on the biggest stage.
