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By Matthew Couden
Contributing Writer
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Jalen Brunson became a New York legend earlier this month, as he guided the Knicks to their first championship in over 50 years, bringing excitement to fans and former Knicks players alike.
For his incredible performances to help defeat the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, including an elite 45-point game to clinch the championship, Brunson received the NBA Finals MVP award.
With that, many analysts, players, and fans crowning Brunson as a bona fide superstar in the league and the biggest free-agent signing in NBA history, due to the impact he had on the team.
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However, Brunson drew some blunt criticism on ESPN several years ago. WNBA coach Becky Hammon suggested that the Knicks wouldn't be able to win the championship because Brunson wasn't the type of leader or star they needed to get it done.
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And Hammon is doubling down on her previous comment, calling him "an outlier" who belongs in the history books with smaller players.
"Jalen, all he did was prove history wrong, he proves he's an outlier, so you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas, and I thought he played brilliantly, especially down the stretch," Hammon said, per a recent interview with Madeline Kenney before the Las Vegas Aces host the New York Liberty.
"I mean, he was that 1A dude, but like, apologize, I'm never gonna apologize for having an opinion, that's what ESPN pays me for," she also said.
Hammon's comments arrive after a recent live edition of "The Roommates Show" podcast, which is co-hosted by Knicks stars Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart. During that episode, Hart didn't name any names, but many believed he was calling on Hammon to apologize for what she previously said.
However, Hammon is doubling down, and rightfully so. The current coach of the Las Vegas Aces previously worked for ESPN as an NBA studio analyst during her WNBA offseasons, and then signed an expanded deal to further contribute on "SportsCenter," "Get Up," and "First Take."
Even though she didn't apologize, she at least gave Brunson a spot among several elite players who are former NBA champions, Finals MVPs, and legitimate Hall of Fame talents.
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