Jalen Brunson Was Fueled by Becky Hammon’s ‘Small Guard’ Comment, Claims Mikal Bridges

WNBA head coach Becky Hammon had stated that the Knicks cannot win a title with 'small guy' Jalen Brunson as their leader.

Jalen Brunson Was Fueled by Becky Hammon’s ‘Small Guard’ Comment, Claims Mikal Bridges

Jalen Brunson with the NBA Championship and Finals MVP trophies (Image via FirstSportz)

There was a time when every analyst and critic was carefully assessing what the New York Knicks were doing after they signed Jalen Brunson in free agency to be their leading superstar.

After all, he was just a rising star on the Dallas Mavericks, which led everybody to think that this was typical of the Big Apple-based franchise for overpaying players who are not elite.

Then, as they traded or signed for players who had been with the point guard at Villanova, many felt it was Brunson and his father and assistant coach, Rick Brunson, who were convincing the Knicks to do what benefited them.

No wonder the likes of Stephen A. Smith and others openly questioned the franchise’s thought process when they sent five first-round picks to the Brooklyn Nets for Mikal Bridges.

Many questions were also raised when they traded Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Karl-Anthony Towns.

To facilitate some of those moves, the three-time All-Star took a $113 million pay cut. But still, there were question marks about his ability to lead, as per a certain Becky Hammon.

Becky is a savage, too. But I appreciate Becky, no cap. The words she said about can’t win with JB being a ‘1A’, ‘1B’, ‘he too little’, all that did is fuel him bro… I know him… He know what she said.

Mikal Bridges said on IG Live

This was the 29-year-old, who made it clear that Jalen Brunson was completely aware of what the Hall of Famer said about him. It is just that he did not want to talk about it publicly.

But Hammon’s words fueled him, and that is why he ended up winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and now, the NBA Finals MVP while hoisting the Larry O’Brien trophy.

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Jalen Brunson’s sister mocked Becky Hammon for past ‘small guy’ comment

When reporters asked Becky Hammon about her past comments about Jalen Brunson, the Las Vegas Aces head coach stood her ground. But she did say that if the Knicks superstar proved her wrong, so be it. Now, Brunson’s sister, Erica Brunson, has ensured the former WNBA star gets an epic clapback.

Jalen Brunson is now at the NBA's mountaintop
Jalen Brunson is now at the NBA’s mountaintop (Image via LakeShow/X)

Now what?

Erica Brunson wrote on X

It was as savage a response as she could give the three-time WNBA championship-winning coach for getting her opinion wrong.

It seems that Erica Brunson was completely aware of the narratives building around her brother. But unlike him, she chose to clap back at Hammon and anyone else who tried to belittle Jalen Brunson.

Not only did he prove that he can be a leader, as was evident in this postseason, but the New Jersey-born guard has also proven how he can lead his team as their primary scorer and playmaker.

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Jalen Brunson refuses to respond to his critics

As any loving sister would do, Erica Brunson made sure to point out to critics how her brother has proved them wrong. But when Jalen Brunson was asked about it after winning the NBA championship, he replied:

I didn’t respond to them then, I’m damn sure not gonna respond to them now.

Jalen Brunson said

This was his final response to reporters before he got up from the media session and walked away. It was his mic-drop moment, letting his critics know he was not going to give them airtime.

Brunson has proved them wrong with his performances on the court, and was not going to get into a back-and-forth about how he has enjoyed the last laugh.

Brunson is a quiet leader, and these responses show how he prefers to keep the noise out of his head when his mind is fixated on the ultimate goal.

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