NBA legend Isiah Thomas backed Jalen Brunson after Becky Hammon doubled down on her criticism of the New York Knicks star. Three years ago, Hammon said Brunson wasn’t a “1A” player on a championship team, as he was a small guard. However, Brunson led the Knicks to the NBA Finals this year, which prompted fans and analysts to revisit Hammon’s comments and criticize her.
Hammon addressed the criticism, but stood her ground. While talking to reporters on Wednesday, the Aces coach said:
“I stand by it. There’s no air to be cleared. I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong. Good for him.”
Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio and discussed Hammon’s comments, as well as Brunson’s impact on the sport. He said:
“In today’s game, He {Jalen Brunson} is an outlier. He’s been overlooked. Not only has he been overlooked, but in a lot of ways, he’s been disrespected only because of his size. It has nothing to do with his playing ability and what we know about the game of basketball, if you know how to play, if you’re big or small, you can neutralize the bigger guys with your speed, with your intelligence, with your tempo, with your IQ. That’s the beauty of the game.”
Thomas was also considered small, but enjoyed plenty of success with the Pistons. He was the central figure in the Detroit Pistons’ bad-boy era, bringing two titles to the franchise in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile, Brunson was awarded the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after the Knicks closed out the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.
Stephen A. Smith highlights the steady rise of Jalen Brunson
The Knicks have become serious contenders with Jalen Brunson leading their charge. NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith highlighted how the Knicks have risen under Brunson’s leadership:
“They lost in Round 1, they lost in the conference semifinals, they lost in the conference finals, and now here they are in the finals, that’s been the path of constant level of accension, leaning on the leadership of a dude who was supposed to be a role player and instead, he’s been a superstar in this league. And at a time when we’re looking for a guy that is 7-foot-5, and everybody is talking about he’s the future. If you’re Jalen Brunson and you become a champion… that’s big.”
The Knicks will have to overcome either Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs or Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Thunder in the NBA Finals. The Thunder and the Spurs will battle in Game 7 with the series on the line.
READ MORE: Kevin Durant Has Perfect Response After Knicks Fan Says Brunson Ended New York’s Obsession With Him
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