Jalen Brunson in the NBA Finals: Becky Hammon Stands by Her Comments on « Small Players »

In December 2023, on ESPN, Becky Hammon dropped a line that is still making waves today: « If your best player is small, you’re not winning. » At the time, the Knicks were sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference, and Jalen Brunson (6’2″) hadn’t yet won everyone over. Since then, the context has changed dramatically.

Brunson, Eastern Conference MVP, Answers on the Court

Monday night, the Knicks swept the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals, securing their first trip to the NBA Finals in 27 years. Jalen Brunson was awarded the Larry Bird Trophy as Conference MVP after averaging 25.5 points and 7.8 assists in the series. Over the entire playoffs, he has posted 26.9 points and 6.6 assists per game, carrying a New York squad that has now won eleven consecutive games with a point differential of +23.8 per game.

Becky Hammon: [The Knicks] don’t have a dude… you got to have a 1A dude. »

Kendrick Perkins: « They do have that dude. »

B: « Who? »

K: « Jalen Brunson. »

B: « He too small. If your best player is small, you’re not winning… Steph Curry is the only dude. »pic.twitter.com/XWhJHZXpxT

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) December 21, 2023

Faced with these numbers, Becky Hammon was asked on Tuesday about Jalen Brunson. The Las Vegas Aces coach didn’t back down, though she did add some nuance. « I’m speaking from experience. Allen Iverson was MVP and he lost in the Finals. I think the two best teams are probably out West, but I’m ready to be wrong. Jalen Brunson is one heck of a player, one heck of a player. I was talking historically about the NBA with what I said. I don’t know why everyone keeps holding onto that. I said it two years ago. I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong, » she stated.

READ ALSO

Jalen Brunson’s $113M Sacrifice That Changed Everything for the Knicks!

May 26, 2026

JB Garcin

A Personal Stake in These Playoffs

Hammon’s stance is also colored by a special affection for one of the potential finalists. A former player for the San Antonio Silver Stars — the franchise that later relocated to Las Vegas to become the Aces — she also served as an assistant to Gregg Popovich with the Spurs. And the Hall of Famer made no secret of her preferences. « Oh, you know who I’m rooting for, » she simply said…

« I said it 2 years ago

I stand by it

There’s no air to be cleared

I said what I said »

–– Becky Hammon on saying Jalen Brunson’s not a « 1A dude » because he’s « too small » and therefore « not winning » pic.twitter.com/erkWEOPDaY

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) May 27, 2026

The Knicks will face the winner of the Western Conference Finals, currently 3-2 in favor of the Oklahoma City Thunder. New York could claim its first NBA title in 53 years, a prospect that would render Hammon’s comments definitively obsolete. But the three-time WNBA champion coach stands fully behind her words: she said what she said, and it’s up to Brunson to prove her wrong.

READ ALSO

Jalen Brunson Named Eastern Conference Finals MVP After the Knicks’ Sweep of the Cavs!

May 26, 2026

Maxime Bodilis

Whatever the outcome of these playoffs, Mike Brown’s squad has proven they have what it takes to be a true contender. And Jalen Brunson perfectly embodies the outstanding momentum of this New York team!