Jalen Brunson; Becky Hammon.Credit : Al Bello/Getty; Ethan Miller/Getty
For years, the New York Knicks searched for the superstar who could return the franchise to championship glory. According to Becky Hammon, that player wasn’t on the roster.
In 2023, Hammon sparked debate when she questioned whether the Knicks had a true “1A” player capable of leading a team to an NBA championship. While acknowledging Jalen Brunson’s talent, she pointed to history, noting that championship teams are typically led by larger wings or dominant forwards rather than undersized guards.
At the time, it was a fair basketball discussion. Brunson was coming off a breakout season, but many analysts still viewed him as an excellent No. 2 option rather than a franchise-altering superstar.
Three years later, that conversation looks a lot different.
Brunson has authored one of the greatest playoff runs in Knicks history, leading New York to its first NBA championship since 1973 and ending a 53-year title drought that had haunted generations of fans.
Time and again throughout the postseason, Brunson delivered when the Knicks needed him most. Whether it was clutch fourth-quarter buckets, fearless drives into traffic, or steady leadership in pressure-packed moments, he consistently rose to the occasion.
The same player some believed couldn’t be the best player on a championship team became exactly that.
To Hammon’s credit, her comments were rooted in historical precedent. The odds were against Brunson based on what history suggested.
But champions aren’t remembered for following history.
They’re remembered for making it.
Brunson’s championship run didn’t just bring a title back to Madison Square Garden. It shattered one of the biggest narratives surrounding his game and cemented his place among the greatest players in franchise history.
The Knicks no longer need to answer whether they have a “1A” superstar.
The Larry O’Brien Trophy already answered it.
