Hammon refuses to apologize to Brunson! She only proves she is an exception, comparable to Curry

On June 24th Beijing time, Jalen Brunson overcame external doubts and led the New York Knicks to an NBA championship, delivering a strong rebuttal to Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon. Yet Hammon’s attitude still carries a hint of defiance. According to New York Post reporter Madeline Kenney, Hammon stated in an interview today that she will not apologize to Jalen Brunson.

"Jalen simply used his actions to overturn past established beliefs. He proved he is a unique exception, fully comparable to Stephen Curry and Isaiah Thomas. I think he played extremely well, especially in the decisive stages of the game. Yes, he is undoubtedly the team’s undisputed primary core, but apologize to me? I will never apologize for expressing my personal opinion. ESPN hired me to provide analysis and commentary."

After Brunson won Finals MVP, this legendary WNBA figure faced overwhelming criticism.

Back in December 2023, while appearing on an ESPN program, Hammon suggested that Brunson was not a true primary core player, and that his 6'1" height would become a weakness in the Knicks' championship pursuit. She also added at the time that she admired Brunson's playing style, but if the team’s best player is also the shortest on the court, it would be extremely difficult for the team to go all the way and win the title.

As it turned out, Brunson managed to accomplish this difficult feat.

However, repeatedly bringing up Hammon's comments from two years ago as off-court gossip seems a bit overblown.

When the Knicks were eliminated in the second round of the 2024 playoffs and lost in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2025, those who initially agreed with Hammon’s view acknowledged her judgment. Yet now, no one mentions this matter anymore.

Her opinion at the time actually represented the mainstream consensus within the league, and Hammon herself, being a shorter guard, knew firsthand how difficult it is to lead a team to the top relying solely on a small guard. When she evaluated Brunson and the Knicks, it was not a sensational remark made for attention; this conclusion was entirely based on her own professional experience.

Moreover, the Knicks’ championship this time does not completely overturn the macro logic she proposed. Since the inception of the Finals MVP award in 1969, only four players who are 6'1" or shorter have earned that honor. There is still no widespread trend of small guards leading their teams to championships, and the historical pattern remains unbroken.

Perhaps the league landscape will change from now on, but for the moment, what Brunson accomplished only highlights how extraordinary he is. Now that Hammon has finally responded to this controversy, perhaps everyone can move on and stop dwelling on this matter.