The New York Knicks are NBA champions for the first time since the 1970s, and they didn't just win—they did it with Jalen Brunson as the undisputed leader. That reality has left one prominent voice in basketball looking more than a little off base.
Becky Hammon, the former NBA assistant and current WNBA head coach, made headlines back in the 2023-24 season when she questioned whether the Knicks could ever win a title with Brunson as their best player. Her words have resurfaced in the wake of New York's 4-1 series win over the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals, and the internet is having a field day.
During a segment on ESPN, Hammon argued that the Knicks lacked a true superstar. “They don’t have a dude… you got to have a 1A dude,” she said. When Kendrick Perkins countered that Brunson was that player, Hammon doubled down: “He too small. If your best player is small, you’re not winning… Steph Curry is the only dude.”
Fast forward to the 2026 Finals, and Brunson delivered a performance for the ages. In Game 5, he scored over 40 points, leading the Knicks back from another big deficit to clinch the championship on the road. He was named Finals MVP, and his place in history is now secure as one of the few smaller guards to carry a team to the promised land.
Social media wasted no time calling out Hammon. Fans flooded platforms with reactions, including one who wrote, “45 POINTS ON THE ROAD TO WIN THE FINALS COME HERE BECKY.” Another added, “Could not have been more wrong.” The sentiment was clear: Hammon's skepticism has not aged well.
Brunson's journey to this moment has been remarkable. From his college days to leading the Knicks through a grueling playoff run, he has consistently proven doubters wrong. His performance in the Finals was the exclamation point, silencing critics who questioned his size or ability to be the centerpiece of a championship team. The Knicks' title run also highlighted other key moments, including Jalen Brunson's wife Ali's support and the team's resilience after fans roasted them for early-game struggles.
Hammon, who has had a successful coaching career in the WNBA with the Las Vegas Aces, now finds herself on the wrong side of a hot take. Her comments were not just wrong about Brunson—they underestimated the entire Knicks organization, which built a roster around him that could overcome any deficit. The ESPN computer model's predictions also took a hit as the Knicks defied expectations.
For Brunson, the championship cements his legacy. He joins an elite club of smaller players—like Curry—who have led their teams to glory. And for Hammon, it's a reminder that in sports, the best predictions often come with a side of humility.
