Josh Hart was not holding back when he playfully called out his teammate Jalen Brunson, diminishing his popularity just after the New York Knicks won the 2026 NBA Finals. When reporters asked about all the extra attention Brunson was getting after Thursday’s championship victory, Hart shot back with a classic joke, comparing Brunson to LeBron James and quipping, “He’s not LeBron, let’s relax.” Seriously, that’s just pure Hart, right there.
Brunson’s Rise and Hart’s Playoff Fire
This back-and-forth isn’t new; Brunson and Hart, former Villanova teammates, have built a reputation for trolling each other. But make no mistake, these guys were crucial in ending the Knicks’ 53-year championship drought, taking down the San Antonio Spurs to hoist that Larry O’Brien Trophy back in June. And while Hart might be joking about Brunson’s superstar status, the numbers do not lie. Brunson’s popularity blew up during the 2025-26 campaign, hitting No. 3 on the league’s highest-selling jerseys list during the regular season. He went full beast mode in the playoffs too, dropping 28.4 points and dishing out 6.1 assists per game on some crispy 46.5/36.3/84.6 shooting splits. The man literally grabbed Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP honors. That’s a serious run.
And don’t sleep on Hart’s impact either. He was an all-around menace during their playoff journey, putting up 10.4 points, grabbing 8.9 rebounds, dropping 4.6 assists, and snatching 1.7 steals per game. Plus, he led the team with a whopping 3.4 deflections nightly, according to NBA.com. You need that kind of hustle to win a title.
What’s Next for the Champs?
So, with the jokes still flying and a championship under their belt, Brunson and Hart are ready to kick off their 2026-27 campaign. They are set to face off against none other than LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. Talk about a heavyweight opener! That game tips off on October 20 at 7 p.m. ET. You know Hart’s going to have some choice words for Brunson before that one. Can’t wait to see these champs back on the court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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