Jalen Brunson and Jay-Z have landed on the 2026 EBONY Power 100, but Brunson’s inclusion feels especially significant after the year he has just had. The Knicks star is no longer simply one of New York’s biggest basketball names. After leading the franchise to its first NBA championship in 53 years, he has become one of the city’s defining sports figures.
And then there is Jay-Z, whose name needs little introduction. The music mogul and Roc Nation founder was also selected, putting two very different but hugely influential figures in the same prestigious class. EBONY’s 2026 list recognizes people shaping culture, business, entertainment, sports and communities, and this year’s selections make that mission pretty clear.
Brunson’s Championship Year Changed Everything
The timing could hardly be better for the Knicks captain.
New York entered 2026 with enormous expectations, but nobody could have predicted just how dramatic the season would become. The Knicks eventually reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 and then defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to claim their first championship since 1973.
Brunson was at the center of it all.
In Game 5 of the Finals, with the championship within reach, he delivered one of the defining performances in franchise history. Brunson scored 45 points as New York overcame a 16-point deficit to beat San Antonio 94-90 and secure the title.
That performance also earned him the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy.
For a player who was once viewed by some as too small or too limited to become the centerpiece of a championship team, the moment was a pretty spectacular answer to every doubter.
Brunson averaged 32.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists during the five-game series.
That is not just a nice postseason run. That is superstar-level production when the pressure was at its highest.
Why The EBONY Recognition Matters
EBONY’s Power 100 recognizes leaders, visionaries and changemakers influencing culture across a wide range of industries. The 2026 theme is “The Stories We Shape,” emphasizing people who are actively influencing how their stories and communities are represented.
That makes Brunson an interesting selection because his influence extends beyond simply putting the ball in the basket.
His story has become closely connected with perseverance, leadership and New York basketball culture.
Brunson arrived in New York in 2022 and steadily transformed himself from a highly regarded guard into the face of one of the NBA’s most demanding franchises. Four years later, he was lifting the championship trophy and taking home Finals MVP honors.
That progression is a huge part of why his recognition feels deserved.
The Knicks Were Represented In A Big Way
Brunson was not the only Knick included.
Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges were also named to the Power 100 as part of the sports honorees. In other words, EBONY recognized the entire starting group that helped New York end its historic championship drought.
That is an impressive statement about the team’s cultural impact following its championship.
There is also something particularly fitting about Brunson, Hart and Bridges being part of this group. The three were teammates at Villanova and helped the Wildcats win the 2016 NCAA championship before eventually becoming NBA champions together with the Knicks a decade later.
For Knicks supporters, that connection makes the championship story even better.
But Brunson is clearly the centerpiece of the story.
Jay-Z Brings A Different Kind Of Influence
Jay-Z’s presence on the same list gives the announcement another layer.
He was selected among EBONY’s Music Innovators, alongside Megan Thee Stallion, T.I., Gamma co-founder Larry Jackson and HarbourView Equity Partners founder Sherrese Clarke.
Jay-Z’s influence obviously comes from a different world than Brunson’s.
While Brunson’s impact has been built through basketball and his leadership of the Knicks, Jay-Z has spent decades building influence across music, business and entertainment. His inclusion reinforces how broad the Power 100 has become.
And honestly, that is part of what makes the list interesting.
It is not simply a ranking of the biggest celebrities. It is a collection of people whose work has helped shape conversations and culture in very different ways.
Brunson Has Become More Than A Basketball Star
There was a time when Brunson’s name was mostly discussed in basketball circles.
That has changed dramatically.
Winning the NBA championship in New York carries a different level of cultural weight. The Knicks had waited 53 years for another title, and Brunson was the player holding the Finals MVP trophy when that wait finally ended.
His 45-point closeout performance made the story even bigger.
The Knicks did not simply win the championship. They did it with Brunson leading the way in one of the most pressure-filled games imaginable.
That kind of moment can permanently change how a player is viewed.
Brunson is now part of Knicks history, and his reputation in New York has gone well beyond statistics and regular-season performances.
The Recognition Comes At An Interesting Time
There is also an argument that this recognition could become even more meaningful if Brunson and the Knicks continue winning.
New York is entering the 2026-27 season as defending NBA champions, meaning Brunson now has a completely different challenge ahead of him. The question is no longer whether he can lead the Knicks to the top.
He has already done it.
Now comes the difficult part: staying there.
The Knicks have already made history, but expectations will be much higher after winning the title. Every playoff loss will be scrutinized, every regular-season slump will create questions, and Brunson will be expected to perform like a championship-level leader again.
That pressure comes with the territory.
A Recognition That Fits The Moment
EBONY will celebrate the 2026 Power 100 honorees at its gala on November 9 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles. The event is being produced in partnership with Jesse Collins Entertainment, the company behind major events including the BET Awards and Super Bowl halftime productions.
For Brunson, the honor arrives after perhaps the biggest year of his career.
He entered 2026 as the leader of a Knicks team still chasing its first championship in more than half a century. He leaves the year as an NBA champion, Finals MVP and now an EBONY Power 100 honoree.
That is quite a transformation.
Jay-Z being on the same list certainly adds star power, but Brunson’s inclusion tells its own powerful story. He has gone from being underestimated to becoming the face of a championship franchise and one of the most recognizable figures in New York sports.
And if the Knicks can build on that championship instead of simply celebrating it, this may not be the peak of Brunson’s influence — it could be the beginning of an even bigger chapter.