Draymond Green has never been shy about speaking his mind, but Wednesday night he had to eat his words—and he did so publicly, apologizing to New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson after the point guard engineered one of the most stunning comebacks in NBA Finals history.
Brunson poured in 36 points and led the Knicks back from a 29-point deficit to win Game 4, taking a commanding 3-1 series lead. The performance was a masterclass in clutch play: a step-back three over Victor Wembanyama to cut the lead to one, then a floater that gave New York its first lead of the second half. OG Anunoby sealed it with a miraculous tip-in as time expired.
Before the series, Green openly questioned whether Brunson could be the alpha on a championship roster. “They’re missing that one piece that makes you a championship team,” Green had said, listing names like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James as the kind of players the Knicks supposedly lacked.
After Game 4, Brunson appeared on TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” and Green didn’t dodge the moment. “I’m going to apologize in one game,” Green told Brunson directly. “I’m going to say right now to your face, ‘I’m sorry.’ Then I’ll say when you go get your ring: ‘I apologize.’” Brunson’s response was simple: “Appreciate that.”
The apology didn’t stop there. Becky Hammon, head coach of the Las Vegas Aces, also found herself revisiting old comments. Back in 2023, she said the Knicks didn’t have “a dude” to lead them, adding, “He’s too small. If your best player is small, you’re not winning. Steph Curry is the only dude.” When asked if she’d walk back her words, Hammon doubled down, citing Allen Iverson’s MVP season that ended in a Finals loss. But she also admitted, “I’m up for being proved wrong.”
Brunson, for his part, has kept his focus on the court. The Knicks are now one win away from their first championship in over 50 years, and the chatter around Brunson has shifted from doubt to reverence. Even Taylor Swift, who was courtside in Knicks colors, seemed to add a spark of courtside magic to the night.
The comeback was so dramatic that it even sparked controversy over the officiating, with Knicks fans crying foul on several calls. But no amount of debate can erase what Brunson did: he silenced the doubters, forced an apology from one of the game’s loudest critics, and put the Knicks on the brink of glory.
Green’s mea culpa was a rare moment of humility from a player known for his fiery personality. As he put it, “One game from now, I’ll say it publicly.” For now, Brunson and the Knicks are focused on closing out the series—and proving that size isn’t everything when you have heart.
