Jalen Brunson gave his most pointed dig yet at his doubters.
The Knicks star delivered a message to the haters at City Hall after the team paraded through the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday morning as they celebrated winning their first NBA title in 53 years.
As Brunson stepped up to the microphone, he received “MVP” chants from the crowd.
He went on to make a speech, emphasizing he “wouldn’t trade this for the world” and concluded with a message to the doubters.
“There’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say. There’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you really don’t have to say s–t to them,” Brunson said.
The comment received a boom of cheers from the crowd and Brunson opened his mouth as if he was going to add to his statement, but instead he said, “Nah, they don’t deserve it. Appreciate y’all. Thank you!”
Brunson has been consistent with his non-clap back to those who didn’t believe he was an “1A” player that could lead a team to a championship.
In the press conference following the 94-90 Game 5 victory in San Antonio, the three-time All-Star was asked about those comments and gave a direct answer, similar to what he said Thursday.
“I didn’t respond to them then, I’m damn sure not gonna respond to them now,” he said.
Critics said Brunson isn’t a “1A” player because doesn’t fit the usual type. He isn’t a large guard like Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant nor a big guy like Shaquille O’Neal or Tim Duncan, as traditional examples.
The biggest critic with that take on Brunson has been Aces head coach Becky Hammon.
Hammon said the inital take two years ago during an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today” and was asked again about it in May.
She doubled down on her opinion before adding, “I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.”
Brunson did indeed.
He was named Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the championship-winning Game 5 on Saturday and proved to be a unanimous selection for the Bill Russell Trophy among 11 voters.
Brunson is one of only three other players to score 45 or more points in a closeout Finals game.
During Thursday’s parade, he soaked in the title win, lifting the Larry O’Brien championship trophy among crazed Knicks fans in a packed lower Manhattan alongside wife Ali and daughter Jordyn, who turns 2 in July.
“Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay and longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee joined the Brunson float as well.
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