The final buzzer blared on June 13, and the New York Knicks had done it. Championship secured, the city erupted, and just five days later, on June 18, 2026, those streets filled for a ticker-tape parade that was absolutely nuts. Man, when that initial high from winning it all starts to wear off and you truly grasp what just went down, your mind goes straight to all the folks who doubted you. Athletes always talk about how “they didn’t believe in us,” or “what’re they gonna say now?” That’s the fuel, right? And for the basketball world, after that final horn, all that “I told you so” energy was aimed squarely at one person: Becky Hammon.
The “Small Guard Can’t Win” Prophecy That Got Smoked
Becky Hammon, back in December 2023, laid out her opinion, a take rooted in over 35 years of NBA history: “You can’t win if your best player is small.” She wasn’t totally wrong about the general premise, to be fair. Only one squad since the 1989-90 Bad Boys Pistons has snagged a title with a small guard as their top dog, and that was Steph Curry, who basically revolutionized the game with his three-point magic. Unless you’ve got a generational talent, an outlier like Curry who changes everything, a small guard as your main guy just doesn’t cut it for a championship team. That was her argument, based on decades of basketball reality. But here’s where she messed up big time: she picked the wrong target.
Brunson Said “Hold My Ring” To The Haters
Hammon had a whole list of small guards she could have singled out. Guys like Ja Morant, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, prime Russell Westbrook, Trae Young, De’Aaron Fox, all No. 1 options around the time of her comments. But nope, she chased the “Knicks for Clicks” wave and chose Jalen Brunson. Talk about a misstep! The odds were stacked in her favor, but she went after the *one* player who would absolutely make her eat crow. What Brunson pulled off this season isn’t some new blueprint, it’s not a fluke, and it sure as heck doesn’t come with an asterisk. It’s a definitive statement. He belongs in the same rare air as Steph Curry, an outlier who stands tall among giants and never backs down. His playstyle has completely shattered the “small guards are at a disadvantage” narrative in the modern NBA.
For the past few years, we’ve heard that buzz, “Who’ll be the next Jalen Brunson?” And honestly, it just goes to show how unique his path has been. What he did this season wasn’t just about winning a championship, it was about proving that some players simply defy the rules. It’s going to be wild to see what he does next now that he’s got that hardware.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Posting and Toasting.
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