- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,194,623
- Reaction score
- 59
Jalen Brunson did it.
The most doubted superstar in the NBA had led his hometown New York Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years in one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent memory and he capped it all off with a 45 point performance in the closeout Game 5 and earned himself Finals MVP.
From the day that Brunson signed with the Knicks as their new franchise star, fresh off of the Knicks missing out on signing players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, virtually the entire NBA media world called it a mistake.
Just as quickly, Brunson proved those doubters wrong, earning three All-Star selections, a Clutch Player of the Year award and now a championship.
Brunson is no stranger to doubt. Throughout his career, even going back to his college days at Villanova, he was counted out for being too small, unathletic and simply not the guy that cold lead a team to a championship.
It was an almost unanimous opinion across the the media world, with figures like Stephen A. Smith being some of the loudest voices speaking against him.
One of the the doubters that the Knicks fandom has latched on to the most is Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who dismissed Brunson as "too small" and not a "1A" player when she appeared ESPN's NBA Today in 2023.
Those comments immediately caused an uproar and became a rallying cry for Knicks fans that flocked to defend their beloved captain and if Brunson's teammates are to be believed, became something that motivated the Knicks guard even more, not that he needed the extra drive.
On Thursday, after being paraded through the streets of New York City as a champion, Brunson took the stage to express his appreciation for Knicks fans, his team, his staff, his family and to especially take a moment to speak out against everyone who doubted him, though he didn't have to say much.
"There's a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say," Brunson said. "There's a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you don't have to say s--t to them."
Brunson didn't name names and he didn't have to. Hammon wasn't alone in her criticism and Brunson has gotten used to being counted out.
He's already won. Every moment since the clock hit zero in Game 5 has vindicated Brunson and all of the work he's put in up to this point.
They called him too small. They said he wasn't athletic enough.
He knows that he's a champion.
Continue reading...
The most doubted superstar in the NBA had led his hometown New York Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years in one of the most dominant playoff runs in recent memory and he capped it all off with a 45 point performance in the closeout Game 5 and earned himself Finals MVP.
From the day that Brunson signed with the Knicks as their new franchise star, fresh off of the Knicks missing out on signing players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, virtually the entire NBA media world called it a mistake.
Just as quickly, Brunson proved those doubters wrong, earning three All-Star selections, a Clutch Player of the Year award and now a championship.
Familiar With Doubt
Brunson is no stranger to doubt. Throughout his career, even going back to his college days at Villanova, he was counted out for being too small, unathletic and simply not the guy that cold lead a team to a championship.
It was an almost unanimous opinion across the the media world, with figures like Stephen A. Smith being some of the loudest voices speaking against him.
One of the the doubters that the Knicks fandom has latched on to the most is Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon, who dismissed Brunson as "too small" and not a "1A" player when she appeared ESPN's NBA Today in 2023.
Those comments immediately caused an uproar and became a rallying cry for Knicks fans that flocked to defend their beloved captain and if Brunson's teammates are to be believed, became something that motivated the Knicks guard even more, not that he needed the extra drive.
Brunson Speaks to the Noise
On Thursday, after being paraded through the streets of New York City as a champion, Brunson took the stage to express his appreciation for Knicks fans, his team, his staff, his family and to especially take a moment to speak out against everyone who doubted him, though he didn't have to say much.
"There's a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say," Brunson said. "There's a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you don't have to say s--t to them."
Brunson didn't name names and he didn't have to. Hammon wasn't alone in her criticism and Brunson has gotten used to being counted out.
He's already won. Every moment since the clock hit zero in Game 5 has vindicated Brunson and all of the work he's put in up to this point.
They called him too small. They said he wasn't athletic enough.
He knows that he's a champion.
Continue reading...
