Josh Hart squeezed an apology out of Jalen Brunson critic Stephen A. Smith, and now he has sights set on forcing another from Becky Hammon.
Without naming Hammon — a former Spurs assistant coach who became head coach of the WNBA’s Aces — Hart made it known Friday that he is keeping score during a live episode of “The Roommates Show” taped in the theater at Madison Square Garden.
Hart and Brunson — champions together at Villanova and with the Knicks — co-host the podcast.
“I’m not naming names. I’m still waiting for somebody to say they was wrong about someone who led our team to a Final, a championship in 53 years,” Hart said.
The crowd started screaming “Becky!”
“I’m still waiting for something,” Hart said. “I know they have media availability, so we’ll be waiting for that apology.”
Hammon infamously said in 2023 that the 6-foot-2 Brunson was too small to be the lead player on a championship team. She went on to say that she wouldn’t put Brunson in the “1A” tier of superstars.
“If your best player is small, you’re not winning,” Hammon said on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
Given a chance to walk back her remarks last month as the Knicks emerged as title contenders, Hammon doubled down.
“I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said,” Hammon said. “I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago. I stand by it. There’s no air to be cleared. I said what I said.
“[If] he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong. Good for him, but I do think the two best teams are in the West.”
The Knicks beat the Spurs in five games to win their first NBA title since 1973.
Hart called on Smith — a live guest on the podcast — to apologize for doubting Brunson in college and again as a Knicks’ free-agent signing. The notoriously stubborn Smith did just that.
Brunson was asked after the Knicks became champions what he would say to critics who don’t believe he is a “1A” star.
“I didn’t respond to them then,” he said, “I’m damn sure not going to respond to them now.”
Hammon’s Aces play Sunday against the Valkyries, Tuesday against the Liberty, and then visit New York on June 30.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
