Is it the head?
Or the hair?
76ers wing Kelly Oubre Jr. suggested that part of Jalen Brunson’s effectiveness can be attributed to both the Knicks star’s larger-than-average cranium and his braids.
“Obviously, he has a big head,” Oubre said Tuesday. “So it’s definitely tough to guard him with his head and all that.
“He’s a very smart tactical player, so he uses all that to his advantage. But yeah, I’ll be there. He can whip me all he wants [with his braids]. But you’re not getting free like that, so.”
Brunson got free a ton in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, pouring in 35 points on 12-for-18 shooting, as the Knicks set a franchise playoff record by shooting 63.1 percent from the field in their 39-point rout of the 76ers.
When asked if he was joking or if Brunson’s head does get in the way, Oubre said: “A little of both.”
This isn’t the first time someone has pointed out how large Brunson’s head is. Teammate and close friend Josh Hart has frequently joked about its size compared to Brunson’s 6-foot-2 frame.
“I felt like that was something that was very well documented,” Hart said when told of Oubre’s comments. “So, I don’t think that was any shocker when he said that one.”
Later, in regard to Brunson’s dreads giving him an advantage, Hart said: “I never noticed it. Trust me, if I did, I probably would have copied the same hairstyle, so maybe I would have got a couple more buckets or something like that. But that’s an interesting analysis.”
Miles McBride cracked that it may be a second weapon for Brunson, but it isn’t anything that he has noticed from going up against him in practice.
What is clear is the 76ers will need to find a way to slow down Brunson to make this a series.
Two years ago, Brunson averaged 35.5 points in an opening-round playoff series win over Philadelphia. In Brunson’s last five playoff games against the 76ers, he has scored at least 35 points in each contest. The last player to do that to Philadelphia was Michael Jordan in 1993.
“We’ve played against him many times. And we have to make adjustments that we see on film,” Oubre said. “But kudos to him. Came out and started the series and did what they had to do at home.
“It’s up to us to respond.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
