Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

'Can’t put him in LeBron, Steph, Embiid, type of tier' – Becky Hammon clears stance on Jalen Brunson after backlash over calling Knicks’ star ‘small’

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Rishabh Bhatnagar | Last updated 12/22/23

In a recent episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, Becky Hammon, the head coach of the Los Vegas Aces, asserted that the Knicks lack an ‘A1 dude’. She went on to express skepticism about Jalen Brunson’s ability to lead the team to postseason success and become a top player in the division, due to his size.

The comments made by Hammon sparked a quick backlash from fans and analysts. In response, she took to social media to defend herself and offer context to the initial statements.

In her defense, Becky Hammon cited her admiration for Jalen Brunson and acknowledged his efforts as an “undersized player,” labeling him a “GREAT NBA player.” However, she maintained her initial stance of not including him in the A-List of top players alongside names like LeBron James, Curry, Giannis, and Joel Embiid.

Despite the criticism directed at him, Jalen Brunson is having a remarkable season with the Knicks. Currently, he boasts an impressive average of 25.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game, with a field goal percentage of 47.2% and a three-point percentage of 45.8%.

For the record… pic.twitter.com/8JTSeEswg4
— Becky Hammon (@BeckyHammon) December 22, 2023

Jalen Brunson’s career in review

Jalen Marquise Brunson of the New York Knicks was initially drafted as the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. He went on to spend four seasons with the franchise. Prior to Brunson’s NBA career, he played college basketball at Villanova University, where he achieved the distinction of winning the National Player of the Year award during his junior year.

In 2022, Jalen Brunson transitioned to the New York Knicks as a free agent, experiencing a notable improvement in his game and garnering multiple records and accolades in the process. Now in his fifth season in the league, he has played 345 games, starting 195 of them, and maintains an average of 14.3 points, 4.2 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game.

On December 15, 2023, Jalen Brunson delivered a stellar performance by scoring a career-high 50 points on 17/23 shooting, which featured an impressive 9/3 3-point shooting, in a remarkable comeback win against the Phoenix Suns. This achievement marked him as the sixth player and the first since Anthony Davis to record 50 points, five rebounds, five steals, five assists, and five 3-pointers in a single game.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: