Becky Hammon Revisits ‘1A’ Comment After Jalen Brunson Leads Knicks to Championship

On June 24, 2026, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon opened a pre-game press conference before the Aces’ matchup with the New York Liberty by declaring, “I was wrong. I was wrong. My opinion was wrong.” The comment came after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, with point guard Jalen Brunson earning Finals MVP after a 45-point Game 5 and a series-average of 32.6 points.

The Guardian

In December 2023, Hammon told ESPN’s “NBA Today” that the Knicks lacked a “1A” player and that Brunson’s 6-foot-2-inch size limited his championship prospects. She cited smaller guards—John Stockton, Allen Iverson, Steve Nash—as never having won a title, naming Steph Curry as the sole exception.

The Guardian

• Becky Hammon – Aces head coach, former WNBA player, ESPN analyst.

Bleacher Report

• Jalen Brunson – Knicks point guard, 2026 Finals MVP.

EssentiallySports

• Josh Hart – Knicks forward demanding an apology.

Becky Hammon Drops Fierce Response to Josh Hart’s Apology Demand On Jalen Brunson

• New York Knicks – 2026 champions, first title in 53 years.

EssentiallySports

• Las Vegas Aces – Hammon’s WNBA team.

Bleacher Report

Brunson scored 45 points in Game 5, with 29 in the second half and 15 in the fourth. He averaged 32.6 points per game in the series. Only four players 6-foot-2-inches or shorter have won Finals MVP since 1969; Brunson is the fourth.

EssentiallySports

Hammon said Brunson “proved history wrong” and called him an “outlier” comparable to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas. She acknowledged her earlier view was mistaken but refused a formal apology, insisting she would not apologize for her opinion, citing her ESPN role.

EssentiallySports

Knicks forward Josh Hart said on a podcast he was “waiting for that apology,” prompting fans at Madison Square Garden to chant Hammon’s name. Media noted the lingering resentment toward her stance.

Becky Hammon Drops Fierce Response to Josh Hart’s Apology Demand On Jalen Brunson

Reports vary on whether Hammon’s “I was wrong” remark counts as an apology; she explicitly declined to apologize. Brunson gave no public comment, leaving his view unknown.

Heavy

• “Wait, I have a comment to start. I was wrong. I was wrong. My opinion was wrong. Okay, let’s go.” — Becky Hammon

Heavy

• “He proves he’s an outlier, so you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas.” — Becky Hammon

The Guardian

• “I mean, he was that 1A dude. But apologize? I’m never gonna apologize for having an opinion. That’s what ESPN pays me for.” — Becky Hammon

EssentiallySports

• “I know they have media availability. So, we’ll be waiting for that apology.” — Josh Hart

EssentiallySports

The Aces face the Liberty later on June 24, giving Hammon another platform to address the controversy. Analysts expect the size-bias debate to persist as Brunson’s performance reshapes historical assumptions about point-guard stature in the NBA.

The Guardian