Jalen Brunson Swept the Cavs and Became ECF MVP, But Becky Hammon Is STILL Saying He's Too Small For a Title

HOLY MOLY, you guys, did you catch what just went down?! The New York Knicks, yeah, *those* Knicks, just absolutely SWEEEEEPPPED the Cleveland Cavaliers to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals! This is their first Finals trip since 1999, and the energy around the league is absolutely buzzing. And who's the man of the hour? None other than Jalen Brunson, who rightfully snatched up that Eastern Conference Finals MVP award. Our guy was just on fire, averaging 25.5 points and 7.5 assists, shooting a stellar 48.7% in that series. He's only four wins away from bringing a title back to New York for the first time since 1973. BUT, and this is where it gets absolutely WILD, Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon? She's still not convinced he's the "dude" to get it done.

The 6-Foot-2 Star's Ascent Meets a 5-Foot-6 Skeptic

Back in December of 2023, Hammon dropped a take on ESPN's NBA Today that had everyone talking. She said the Knicks were "missing" a "1A dude," and straight up declared, "if your best player is small, you're not winning." Now, with Brunson, a 6-foot-2 guard, leading his team to the promised land and being named ECF MVP, you'd think maybe she'd rethink things, right? WRONG. Hammon, a Hall of Famer herself, was asked about those two-year-old comments this Tuesday, and she didn't back down one bit. "I stand by it," she said. She added, "I speak from experience. Allen Iverson got MVP, and he lost in the Finals. I think the two best teams are probably in the West, but I'm up for being proven wrong." She was quick to say Brunson's a "hell of a player," but emphasized she's speaking "historically on the NBA."

Why Hammon Is So Adamant: A History Lesson

So why is Hammon, who stands at 5-foot-6, so absolutely firm on this? She's speaking from a place of deep experience. She spent 16 seasons tearing it up in the WNBA, eight with the New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden and eight with the San Antonio Silver Stars/Aces. She was a six-time All-Star, a four-time All-WNBA selection, and went to the playoffs 13 times. But a championship? That always eluded her. She was 0-4 in the WNBA Finals. She also spent seven years as an assistant for the San Antonio Spurs, winning three rings as a coach. Her argument points to historical examples like John Stockton, Allen Iverson, and Steve Nash, all incredible small guards who never hoisted a title. Her only exception? Steph Curry, who she points out is 6-foot-3 and "the best shooter to ever walk the planet." Even Brian Windhorst agreed with her in 2023, saying, "History says she is right." So, the stage is set! Jalen Brunson, the ECF MVP, is now just four wins away from making history for the Knicks and, even bigger, proving a legitimate NBA legend wrong. Can he defy the historical odds and silence the doubters, including one of the most respected voices in basketball? You better believe every basketball fan, especially those of us who bleed green and blue and love to see underdogs roar, will be glued to our screens watching this unfold. What a series this is going to be!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.