Photo: Peter Baba

Jalen Brunson made it clear he has not been involved in trying to recruit LeBron James to the New York Knicks, distancing himself from the speculation surrounding the four-time NBA champion’s free agency.

Asked whether he had pitched James on joining the defending NBA champions, Brunson dismissed the idea.

“My job is to put the ball in the hoop. Try and play a little defense. There’s people who are above me who determine who’s on the team and who’s not. I’ll leave the pitching to them,” Brunson said on Nightcap show during Fanatics Fest.

Brunson’s comments come as James remains the biggest name available in free agency. Multiple contenders have been linked to the 41-year-old, including the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors.

New York enters the offseason from a position of strength after capturing the 2026 NBA championship. The Knicks finished the regular season 53-29, good for third place in the Eastern Conference, before dominating the playoffs with a 16-3 record. They swept both the Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers before defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the franchise’s first title since 1973.

Brunson was at the center of that championship run. He averaged 26.0 points, 6.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds in 74 regular-season games while earning All-NBA Second Team honors for a third consecutive season. His postseason production was even more impressive, as he averaged 28.4 points and 6.1 assists across 19 playoff games while shooting 46.5% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.

The 29-year-old delivered one of the most productive playoff stretches by a point guard in recent NBA history. He was named the Finals MVP after averaging 28.4 points over the postseason.

James’ next destination remains unresolved. ESPN’s Shams Charania recently reported that the Warriors have lost momentum in the race because they have been unable to acquire Anthony Davis from the Washington Wizards, leaving Miami, Cleveland and Philadelphia ahead of Golden State in the pursuit.