Channing Frye thinks Jalen Brunson will give Cavs ‘the business’ in ECF

Former Cleveland Cavaliers big man Channing Frye offered an honest take on the team’s Eastern Conference Finals matchup against the New York Knicks.

He believes that Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson could be a major problem for the Cavs, who don’t have a ton of great options to send his way on defense.

“I think Brunson’s gonna be an issue,” Frye said. “To be honest, I think Jalen Brunson’s gonna give them the business. I just think they don’t really have — like Dean Wade can work when one guy is centered on the offense, but the Knicks have five playmakers, right?

“If you look at Toronto, their offense was solid, but not great. Detroit, their offense was, eh, great at times, but then you look at the Knicks offense, is immaculate. And so what do you do if Jalen Brunson’s going off? Oh, we have to double team him? Now you’re leaving KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns), OG [Anunoby], Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, whoever else open.

“And it’s like, to me, I don’t know if the Cavs defense is up to this challenge. I’d have to see it after a game or two.”

Brunson has put together a strong postseason for New York, averaging 27.4 points, 6.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 40.9 percent from 3-point range.

The star guard was a major reason why the Knicks beat the Cavs in the 2023 playoffs in five games, and he has led New York to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals appearances.

Since he joined the Knicks ahead of the 2022-23 season, Brunson has averaged 29.4 points and 6.7 assists per game in the playoffs, shooting 46.3 percent from the field on 22.4 shots per game.

The Knicks have the best offensive rating in the NBA so far this postseason, and they’ve won seven games in a row since falling into a 1-2 hole in the first round against the Atlanta Hawks. Brunson has been at the center of the team’s postseason success, scoring over 25 points in seven of New York’s 10 playoff games in 2026.

The Cavs did find a way to slow down star guard Cade Cunningham in Game 7 of the conference semifinals, holding him to 5-of-16 shooting, so they are capable of having big defensive nights.

Hopefully, Cleveland will have more of those in this series with the Knicks, though New York’s supporting cast is much better offensively than Detroit’s was this postseason.