Hammon acknowledges Brunson’s greatness but won’t apologize for questioning star

Las Vegas Aces coach had said guard was not a ‘1A dude’

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon twice on Tuesday acknowledged what Jalen Brunson accomplished in leading the New York Knicks to the NBA championship was historic and her “opinion was wrong,” but she offered no apology for her previous comments.

Hammon spoke to reporters at the Aces shootaround earlier in the day and then before Las Vegas’ home game against the New York Liberty. In the pregame news conference, Hammon opened by making a point to say she was wrong that the 6ft 2in point guard was too small to lead the Knicks to the title.

Brunson was named NBA finals MVP after guiding the Knicks to victory over the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 45 points in the title-clinching game.

Hammon made her original comments on ESPN in December 2023, saying Brunson wasn’t a “1A dude.”

She was asked about her remarks at Aces shootaround.

“Jalen, all he did was prove history wrong,” Hammon said. “He proves he’s an outlier, so you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas. I thought he played brilliantly, especially down the stretch. I mean, he was that 1A dude. But apologize? I’m never going to apologize for having an opinion. That’s what ESPN pays me for.”

This isn’t the first time in recent weeks she defended her original comments. Hammon also was asked her opinion after Brunson was named Eastern Conference final MVP when the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers.

“I think Jalen Brunson’s a hell of a player, a hell of a player,” Hammon said on 26 May. “I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago. I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.”