Hammon insists that the short guard's championship win was an exception and refuses to apologize.

WNBA Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon spoke about New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson in an interview on Tuesday.

Hammon acknowledged that Brunson has entered the ranks of top players, but she refused to apologize for her past comments and insisted that the rule that short guards usually cannot lead teams to championships still holds true in NBA history.

Previously, the 1.88-meter-tall Brunson led the Knicks to a 4-1 victory over the San Antonio Spurs to win the championship, scoring 45 points in the final game and winning the Finals MVP. However, Hammon commented on Brunson on an ESPN program in December 2023, saying that he was not a "1A-level core" capable of leading a team to a championship.

During the team's pre-game practice on Tuesday, Hammon addressed the topic. She stated, "Everything Jaylen did was prove history wrong. He proved himself to be an exception, so you can put his name alongside Stephen Curry and Isaiah Thomas."

"I think he played exceptionally well, especially in crucial moments. I mean, he really is a 1A guy. But an apology? I would never apologize for having my own opinion. That's exactly what ESPN pays me to do."

In fact, this is the second time Hammon has defended his comments recently. When Brunson led his team to a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, Hammon said, "I think Jalen Brunson is a very good player."

"What I said was based on historical patterns in the NBA. I don't know why everyone keeps bringing it up. I said what I had to say. If he proves me wrong, then he has proven me wrong."

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