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[Saba Sports News] Becky Hammon, current Las Vegas Aces head coach and ESPN analyst during the WNBA offseason, expressed a skeptical viewpoint about New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson on ESPN’s “NBA Today.” Hammon suggested that the Knicks lack a “1A dude,” and when co-host Kendrick Perkins mentioned Brunson, she remarked that he is “too small” and implied that teams led by smaller players, with the notable exception of Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors, are unlikely to achieve significant success.
This statement by Hammon can be seen as a broad and potentially inaccurate generalization. Historically, several NBA teams have triumphed with their best player being under 6-foot-5, such as the 2006 Miami Heat led by Dwyane Wade and the 1989-90 Detroit Pistons with Isiah Thomas. Moreover, players like Allen Iverson, Jason Kidd, and John Stockton have led their teams to NBA Finals, demonstrating success despite not being exceptionally tall.
Meanwhile, the 6-foot-2 Brunson has shown considerable skill, being a proficient scorer averaging 25.3 points per game this season while sharing responsibilities with teammates Julius Randle and RJ Barrett. Last season, Brunson played a key role in taking the Knicks to their deepest playoff run in a decade and continues to improve at 27.
Despite Hammon’s impressive credentials as a Basketball Hall of Famer, former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach, and a successful WNBA coach, her comments on Brunson may be another instance of underestimation that he aims to overcome.