Overview
- In a Sports Illustrated video released June 30, Jalen Brunson looked at a photo of coach Becky Hammon and said, “I’m skipping this. I’m skipping her,” then moved on without elaboration.
- Brunson led the New York Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973 and earned Finals MVP this spring, a run that reframed Hammon’s December 2023 remark that a team cannot win with a “small” lead guard.
- Hammon has publicly praised Brunson’s achievement but has refused to offer a full apology for her earlier comment, saying she was expressing a basketball opinion rather than a personal attack.
- Teammates, including Mikal Bridges, said Hammon’s criticism served as motivation for Brunson during the playoffs, while Brunson has generally chosen restraint over public rebuttal.
- The exchange highlights two unfolding threads in coverage: questions about pundit accountability after bold on‑air predictions and Brunson’s preference to let on‑court success, not words, define his legacy; the SI clip also captured Brunson’s brief, noncommittal comment about former Mavericks GM Nico Harrison.