Becky Hammon refuses to apologize for Jalen Brunson '1A' comment after Knicks win title: 'He's an outlier'

<p>Fast forward to June 2026, and Brunson scored 45 points in Game 5 against the Spurs to lead the Knicks to their first title since 1973. Hammon's take didn't age well, but she still doesn't regret what she said back then.</p>

<p>Hammon doubled down on that stance in May, saying she thought the "two best teams" were in the Western Conference, referencing the Spurs and <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/OKC/oklahoma-city-thunder/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oklahoma City Thunder</a>. She also called Brunson "a hell of a player" and said she had no problem being proven wrong.</p>

<p>"I think the two best teams are probably in the West, but I'm up for being proven wrong," <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/becky-hammon-jalen-brunson-knicks-nba-finals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hammon said</a>. "That's the other thing, I think Jalen Brunson's a hell of a player, a hell of a player. I'm speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don't know why everybody's so stuck on that. I said it two years ago."</p>

<p>The Knicks most certainly heard Hammon in 2023, but <a href="/nba/players/2153056/mikal-bridges/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mikal Bridges</a> was actually grateful for what she said.</p>

<p>"I appreciate Becky, no cap. The words she said about can't win with JB being 1A and he's too little, all that did was fuel him," <a href="https://x.com/LegionHoops/status/2066576474560508245" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bridges said last week.</a> "I don't care what he said. I know him. He ain't going to tell y'all. He knows what she said and it fueled him to go be great."</p>

<p>As for Knicks coach Mike Brown, he said his team would "live and die" with Brunson, and that trust certainly paid off. Brunson had an incredible run in the series against the Spurs and <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/knicks-jalen-brunson-nba-finals-mvp/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">was named Finals MVP</a>. After proving his doubters wrong, he decided that addressing them was not worth his time.</p>

<blockquote><p>CAPTAIN CLUTCH GAVE US AN NBA FINALS FOR THE AGES.<br /><br />🏆 Game 1: 30p, 13 in 4Q<br />🏆 Game 2: 20p, game-tying bucket<br />🏆 Game 3: 32p<br />🏆 Game 4: 36p<br />🏆 Game 5: 45p, T-most in road Finals clincher<br /><br />The unanimous NBA Finals MVP... Jalen Brunson! <a href="https://t.co/GGtNgb3k1Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pic.twitter.com/GGtNgb3k1Y</a></p>— NBA (@NBA) <a href="https://x.com/NBA/status/2066977864818508044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">June 16, 2026</a></blockquote>

<p>CAPTAIN CLUTCH GAVE US AN NBA FINALS FOR THE AGES.<br /><br />🏆 Game 1: 30p, 13 in 4Q<br />🏆 Game 2: 20p, game-tying bucket<br />🏆 Game 3: 32p<br />🏆 Game 4: 36p<br />🏆 Game 5: 45p, T-most in road Finals clincher<br /><br />The unanimous NBA Finals MVP... Jalen Brunson! <a href="https://t.co/GGtNgb3k1Y" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pic.twitter.com/GGtNgb3k1Y</a></p>

<p>"I didn't respond to them then, I'm damn sure not going to respond to them now," he said shortly after winning the championship. </p>

<p>During the parade last week, Brunson once again repeated that no response was the best response.</p>

<p>"There are a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say,"  <a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/knicks-parade-live-updates-new-york/live/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Brunson said</a>. "There are people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you don't have to say shit to them."</p>

<li><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/watch/nba/video/why-the-knicks-can-repeat-jalen-brunson" title="Copy the video link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a></li>

<li><a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=why-the-knicks-can-repeat-jalen-brunson&amp;url=https://www.cbssports.com/watch/nba/video/why-the-knicks-can-repeat-jalen-brunson" title="X" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=297742330311988&amp;display=popup&amp;href=https://www.cbssports.com/watch/nba/video/why-the-knicks-can-repeat-jalen-brunson" title="Facebook" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"></a></li>

<li>

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/23/f082fc63-73b3-43a0-8b48-43ebbdeecbc4/thumbnail/140x140/d58839ffcdd5c87090d75479ef89ef3d/becky-hammon-aces-brunson.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

<h3>

Becky Hammon defends Jalen Brunson take, but admits she was wrong

</h3>

Isabel Gonzalez

2 min read

</li>

<h3>Becky Hammon defends Jalen Brunson take, but admits she was wrong</h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/2026-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-analysis-round-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/24/2306523e-8be1-4638-b1f7-241c55b429d1/thumbnail/140x140/7149513200a1a5100ec7296886d88a68/dybantsa-goes-no-1-getty.jpg" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/2026-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-analysis-round-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 NBA Draft grades: Analysis of every first-round pick</a>

</h3>

Adam Finkelstein

20 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/2026-nba-draft-grades-pick-by-pick-analysis-round-1/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 NBA Draft grades: Analysis of every first-round pick</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/pat-riley-giannis-antetokounmpo-heat-roster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/23/d1d574aa-5996-4358-8d42-63fa3f3378a4/thumbnail/140x140/04cefa26d17647c7cf27aafe1a29afb2/riley-getty.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/pat-riley-giannis-antetokounmpo-heat-roster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pat Riley got his guy (again) in Giannis; now the work begins</a>

</h3>

John Gonzalez

5 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/pat-riley-giannis-antetokounmpo-heat-roster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pat Riley got his guy (again) in Giannis; now the work begins</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-winners-and-losers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/23/258f7f0f-6e92-46d9-a217-79fb88d9cbcb/thumbnail/140x140/23a00148c9556123b22dfc6b20ed845a/giannis-close-up-getty.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-winners-and-losers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Winners and losers of Giannis trade: Heat fall in both categories</a>

</h3>

Sam Quinn

12 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-winners-and-losers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Winners and losers of Giannis trade: Heat fall in both categories</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/jaylen-brown-trade-rumors-destinations-landing-sports-celtics-giannis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/23/740fcd50-5c89-4229-a2e7-3eaefda02556/thumbnail/140x140/00ae2e94cc174e971c89ae88eb8790bc/jaylen-brown-trade-getty.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/jaylen-brown-trade-rumors-destinations-landing-sports-celtics-giannis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jaylen Brown trade destinations: Six landing spots for Celtics star</a>

</h3>

Sam Quinn

10 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/jaylen-brown-trade-rumors-destinations-landing-sports-celtics-giannis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jaylen Brown trade destinations: Six landing spots for Celtics star</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/five-lingering-questions-after-nba-draft-okc-wemby-stopper-ja-morant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/24/648bab4e-575b-4f5b-a602-aae271ab323c/thumbnail/140x140/c3e5891c6d3fd1b435569efaa26eca0c/mara-thunder-getty.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/five-lingering-questions-after-nba-draft-okc-wemby-stopper-ja-morant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lingering questions after NBA Draft, including what's next for OKC</a>

</h3>

Sam Quinn

9 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/five-lingering-questions-after-nba-draft-okc-wemby-stopper-ja-morant/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lingering questions after NBA Draft, including what's next for OKC</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/wizards-aj-dybantsa-darryn-peterson-no-1-pick-2026-nba-draft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/24/003ee7b4-bb4f-4b1d-9a39-270c263d25d4/thumbnail/140x140/a0d572c980535bc0d71d64929d7755c3/dybantsa.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/wizards-aj-dybantsa-darryn-peterson-no-1-pick-2026-nba-draft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 NBA Draft: Wizards select BYU star AJ Dybantsa with No. 1 pick</a>

</h3>

Cameron Salerno

4 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/wizards-aj-dybantsa-darryn-peterson-no-1-pick-2026-nba-draft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">2026 NBA Draft: Wizards select BYU star AJ Dybantsa with No. 1 pick</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-grades-heat-bucks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/23/1ebe04dd-d815-47a6-8c60-d874fc702545/thumbnail/140x140/7d94a39a87fbde29c610e450e3688bc2/bam-giannis-getty.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-grades-heat-bucks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Giannis trade grades: Heat land their star, but fall short of an 'A'</a>

</h3>

Sam Quinn

9 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-grades-heat-bucks/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Giannis trade grades: Heat land their star, but fall short of an 'A'</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/portland-trail-blazers-micah-nori-unique-contract/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/23/31aa725c-1ce2-4bec-9d7f-b6d4705588fe/thumbnail/140x140/822eafa37b2660b4f46ba29ab438e282/nori-getty.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/portland-trail-blazers-micah-nori-unique-contract/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trail Blazers hire Micah Nori as head coach on unique contract</a>

</h3>

Robby Kalland

2 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/portland-trail-blazers-micah-nori-unique-contract/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trail Blazers hire Micah Nori as head coach on unique contract</a></h3>

<li>

<a href="/nba/news/bucks-waited-too-long-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-celtics-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

<figure><img alt="" src="https://sportshub.cbsistatic.com/i/r/2026/06/23/5d555293-78ec-4e6c-a7c1-3de944c9e387/thumbnail/140x140/d99ba14e4db424e6049d3ba880ce471d/giannis-jaylen-brown-imagn.png" height="140" width="140" loading="lazy" /></figure>

</a>

<h3>

<a href="/nba/news/bucks-waited-too-long-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-celtics-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bucks waited too long on Giannis and still might've made wrong choice</a>

</h3>

Brad Botkin

4 min read

</li>

<h3><a href="/nba/news/bucks-waited-too-long-giannis-antetokounmpo-trade-celtics-heat/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bucks waited too long on Giannis and still might've made wrong choice</a></h3>

<li><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NBA Draft Coverage</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/draft-tracker/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Draft Tracker</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/prospect-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prospect Rankings</a></li>

<li><a href="https://www.cbssports.com/nba/draft/mock-draft/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mock Drafts</a></li>

Guardian Sport · Jun 24

Guardian Sport · Jun 24

234 stories