Is Karl-Anthony Towns Now the Favorite for Finals MVP After Jalen Brunson’s Shooting Struggles?

Two games have passed since the start of the 2026 NBA Finals. The New York Knicks have managed to overcome the odds and secure a 2-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs in a series where many expected Jalen Brunson to be the hero of New York. But his teammate has proven to be the more efficient player so far.

Former NBA player Darren Collison recently shared that he thinks that Karl-Anthony Towns might be the favorite to win the Finals MVP award if the Knicks end up winning the series.

"This 6x All-Star is tired of hearing all the Wemby talk," Collison said about Towns on ESPN. "You can probably make the case that he's probably been the best player in this series as well."

Looking at their individual numbers, Brunson has Towns beat in scoring and steals only. JB is averaging 25.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.5 steals, while shooting 23.5% from beyond the arc and 33.9% from the field overall. Meanwhile, Towns has been better in all other aspects. KAT is averaging 19.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 1.0 blocks, while shooting 42.9% from long distance and 55.6% overall.

Despite Brunson racking up more points, which matter a lot in the game of basketball, it's Towns' efficiency that makes him a better pick for the Finals MVP award, for now.

Brunson has a total of -4 in the plus-minus, while Towns has a total of +25. This matters a lot, considering that it's a statistic that measures a player's impact on the game. It specifically calculates the difference between their team's total points scored and points allowed while they are actively on the court. Towns having the better plus-minus figure indicates he's been a better individual compared to Brunson, at least in the finals.

If KAT ends up winning the Finals MVP award, Brunson has nothing to be worried about. JB previously won the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Towns winning the Finals MVP will only prove that the Knicks have successfully built a versatile team that doesn't rely on one star alone.

Karl-Anthony Towns' dominance over Victor Wembanyama

While Jalen Brunson might've proven to be the New York Knicks' ultimate leader, the 2026 NBA Finals have shown a different script. So far, through the first couple of games, it's been Karl-Anthony Towns who's been carrying the Knicks to victory.

One major reason why Towns has been his team's best player is due to his dominance over Victor Wembanyama. Heading into the finals, many believed that Wembanyama, who averaged 29 points and 12 rebounds a game in the WCF against the OKC Thunder, would prove to be a problem for the Knicks.

However, Towns has successfully shut down his matchup, making Wemby look lost in the series.

Because of Towns' efficient shooting from the floor, he forces Wembanyama to cover him from the perimeter. This leaves the paint open for his Knicks teammates to attack the basket inside.

Wembanyama may be averaging more points and blocks compared to Towns, with 27.5 points and 3.5 blocks. However, his lackluster shooting performance is what's hurting the Spurs. Wemby is only shooting 39.5% overall, and the Knicks have Towns to thank for that.

Despite Towns not being able to completely swat the Spurs center's shots, his presence and shot contests alone are enough to disrupt his shots. Having that in mind, Wembanyama now has limited scoring options.

If KAT continues to play the way he does for the remainder of the series, we wouldn't be surprised if he ended up becoming the Finals MVP.