Kenyon Martin didn’t hold back when asked about Becky Hammon’s past comments on Jalen Brunson following the New York Knicks’ championship-winning season.
Hammon questioned whether Brunson could be the best player on a title-winning team back in 2023, remarks that resurfaced after the Knicks captured the NBA championship and Brunson was named Finals MVP.
Martin was asked about those comments during an appearance with Skip Bayless and made it clear he had little interest in Hammon’s opinion.
Kenyon Martin fires back at Becky Hammon’s old Jalen Brunson comments
Speaking alongside Skip Bayless, Kenyon Martin immediately dismissed Hammon’s previous criticism of Brunson.
“First and foremost, why do we pay attention to anything Becky Hammon has to say? Let’s start there. Who cares what Becky Hammon has to say. Let her stick on that side of basketball… Why would we pay attention to anything she has to say?”
Bayless responded by pointing out that Hammon had served as Gregg Popovich’s first assistant coach with the San Antonio Spurs. Martin was unmoved.
“I don’t care. Don’t get me started on that. There’s plenty of other people that could’ve been sitting in that seat.”
The comments came after Hammon’s previous evaluation of Brunson was revisited following New York’s championship triumph.
Becky Hammon once questioned whether Jalen Brunson could lead a title team
Back in 2023, Hammon argued that the Knicks were missing the type of player needed to win a championship.
“At the end of the day, they don’t have a dude. You got to have a dude. You got to have a 1A dude, and they’re missing that, at the end of the day, if we’re just getting down to brass tacks.”
When asked specifically about Brunson, Hammon doubled down.
“He too small. If your best player is small, you’re not winning.”
Three years later, Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA championship since 1973 and was named Finals MVP after defeating the San Antonio Spurs.
Despite having the opportunity to revisit the criticism, Brunson declined to take a victory lap.
“I didn’t respond to them then and I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now.”
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