Becky Hammon Refusing to Apologize for Jalen Brunson Opinion Angers Fans – “She a Hater”

Becky Hammon used her own experience and that of other short and great NBA players to dismiss Jalen Brunson as a 1A back in 2023.

Becky Hammon Refusing to Apologize for Jalen Brunson Opinion Angers Fans – “She a Hater”

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and Becky Hammon (Image via FirstSportz)

Every time Jalen Brunson led his New York Knicks to a win in the NBA Finals, franchise fans were counting down the days until he proved Becky Hammon wrong.

The Las Vegas Aces head coach had remarked two years ago that the Knicks, or any team for that matter, could not win with a small guard.

She also claimed that Brunson was not a 1A, or in other words, a leading superstar, in her book. Hammon cited small guards from the past, such as Allen Iverson and others, to prove her point.

When the Knicks were close to winning the championship, she doubled down on her opinion. But the Hall of Famer did say that if the Knicks’ point guard was to prove her wrong, so be it.

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. 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.

Becky Hammon said

This was the former San Antonio Spurs’ assistant coach, making it clear to the New York Post’s Madeline Kenney that she would not apologize for what she said.

The mother of two, instead, labeled Jalen Brunson as an ‘outlier’ to what history has shown. This means Becky Hammon was insisting that her ‘small guards’ opinion stands true. It is just that the 29-year-old became one of the exceptions.

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Fans tear into Becky Hammon for not admitting to being wrong about Jalen Brunson

When this interview reached social media, many readers came forward to defend Becky Hammon. They agreed that historically, small guards have failed to lead their respective teams to championships.

However, the majority were ready to tear the three-time WNBA championship-winning coach in half. They felt now that Jalen Brunson had proved her theory to be incorrect, so why was it difficult for Hammon to accept it?

Some labeled her as an athlete who could not let go of her ego. Others felt she was jealous, since she could not do the same in her playing days. Check out examples of such reactions below.

Considering how much experience she has playing and coaching, it is unlikely that Becky Hammon will change her opinion. She has seen far too many examples of how the theory holds.

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Becky Hammon finally apologizes: Or does she?

Becky Hammon knows how the media works, and since this involves a New York Knicks player, she knew fans and the media were not going to let it go.

Becky Hammon was cheeky during her supposed apology
Becky Hammon was cheeky during her supposed apology (Image via Bleacher Report/X)

Wait, I have a comment to start. I was wrong. I was wrong. My opinion was wrong. Okay, let’s go.

Becky Hammon said

This was the 49-year-old’s opening line after her Aces were beaten by the New York Liberty. The cheeky part is that she did not directly address whether it was an apology for being wrong about Jalen Brunson. Moreover, she said it in a sarcastic tone.

Those who follow the WNBA would know that her apology could have been about anything. It could be that she was admitting to being wrong about how her Aces were ready to face the Liberty. Or how she was wrong to clash with an official during this game.

Knicks fans might take this as a win, but this was the six-time WNBA All-Star’s best response to possibly end this debate now, but not by directly addressing it.

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