You have to give it to Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon. Three years ago, she boldly analyzed the NBA’s historic stats and made an opinion that got every New York fan worked up: their “1A dude,” Jalen Brunson, was too small.
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Even when Knicks’ Josh Hart directed a remark at her this Friday at Infosys Theater, asking her to apologize, she, quite literally, pushed the button further and refused to do so. Mere nine hours down the line, she sat in front of the media and walked back.
“I have a comment to start,” Hammon said to the media as the room quieted down with a sly smirk before the Liberty game. “I was wrong. I was wrong. My opinion was wrong.”
The former San Antonio Spurs assistant has faced flak from the Knicks fans throughout their playoff run that ended with the Larry O’Brien trophy. But instead of giving in, Hammon continuously poked the bear.
Just nine hours ago, Hammon told The New York Post’s Madeline Kenney that she would not apologize for having an opinion. In fact, she kept doubling down:
“Jalen, all he did was prove history wrong, he proves he’s an outlier,” she told the New York Post’s Madeline Kenney. “So you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas, and I thought he played brilliantly, especially down the stretch.
“I mean, he was that 1A dude. But apologize? I’m never gonna apologize for having an opinion. That’s what ESPN pays me for.”
Over time, she has admitted that she is somewhat of a fan of Brunson, considering the 6-ft-1 guard has played against towers like 6-ft-7 and still dominated the offense. However, even though she underhandedly accepted being wrong, she did not apologize. Earlier, she had clarified why she even commented her opinion on Brunson.
“I don’t really care,” Hammon said. “When I made the comment, I didn’t think it would be a thing. Anybody that puts it, anything other than in an analytical and historical take never understood the comment anyways.”
In all honesty, Hammon didn’t analyze the situation incorrectly. Only three players listed at 6’2” or shorter have ever won Finals MVP since the award was introduced in 1969. That was until Brunson joined them. But Hammon added more fuel to the fire:
“Let me just piss Knicks fans off again and say I think he’s the greatest Knick ever,” Hammon said. “Give them something else to talk about.”
Ouch!
How it all started
In 2023, Hammon was on ESPN’s NBA Today and was sharing her observations. Then, she remarked that the Knicks didn’t have a “1A dude.” When co-host Kendrick Perkins reminded her of Brunson, she bluntly responded:
“If your best player is small, you’re not winning,” she said.
For a head coach who has a 6-ft-4 center in A’ja Wilson, has won the World Championship thrice in her five years with the Aces, and was an NBA assisstant for seven years, that analysis was purely based on facts.
Teams with smaller guards as their main pivot have struggled to win championships. Just look at the 1990s Utah Jazz with John Stockton, the 2000s Phoenix Suns with Steve Nash, and the 2010s Los Angeles Clippers with Chris Paul.
But that’s not how it ended up in the minds of loyal New Yorkers.
“I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said,” Hammon said in May this year. “I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago; 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.”
When the Knicks won their first title in five decades, Josh Hart sat on stage at Madison Square Garden for The Roommates Show this Friday and asked for Hammon to respond.
“I know they have media availability. So, we’ll be waiting for that apology.”
The apology, in whatever way, has come.
