Jalen Brunson Tells Critics They ‘Don’t Deserve’ a Response After Knicks End 53-Year Title Drought
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NEW YORK — Finals MVP Jalen Brunson used the New York Knicks’ championship parade on Thursday, June 18, 2026, to deliver a pointed message to those who doubted his ability to lead a title team.
“There’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say,” the 6-foot-2 guard told the crowd packed along Manhattan’s streets. “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*** to them. They don’t deserve it.”
City officials estimated that more than one million fans lined the route to celebrate the Knicks’ first NBA championship since 1973. New York clinched the title by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games, with Brunson earning Finals MVP honors.
Questions about Brunson’s ceiling followed him from his selection in the second round of the 2018 draft to his rise as the centerpiece of the Knicks’ roster. Among the loudest skeptics was former WNBA star and Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon, who said in 2023 that a team could not win a championship with Brunson as its best player. Teammate Mikal Bridges later acknowledged that Hammon’s remarks had fueled Brunson’s motivation.
Brunson, now an All-Star and NBA champion, reflected on the team’s achievement while addressing the parade crowd. “Damn, New York, we really did it,” he said. “Somehow, some way, I knew we were going to find a way to get this done.”
The Knicks’ title ends a 53-year wait for the franchise and its fan base, capping what many in the organization are calling one of the greatest seasons in team history.
Source: Hoops Wire
