LAS VEGAS — The head coach of the Las Vegas Aces is holding firm on her controversial stance about shorter players leading championship teams, despite Jalen Brunson’s success in taking the New York Knicks to the NBA Finals.
Becky Hammon originally shared her views during an ESPN appearance in December 2023, declaring that the Knicks would be unable to capture a championship with the 6-foot-2 Brunson as their top performer.
“If your best player is small, you’re not winning,” Hammon said at the time.
Her remarks have resurfaced following Brunson’s outstanding performance in earning the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference finals MVP after the Knicks completed a sweep of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday evening. During the series, he posted averages of 25.5 points and 7.8 assists per game.
New York will meet either defending champion Oklahoma City or San Antonio in the championship series.
“I speak from experience,” Hammon stated on Tuesday. “Allen Iverson got MVP and he lost in the finals. I think the two best teams are probably in the West, but I’m up for being proven wrong. That’s the other thing, I think Jalen Brunson’s a hell of a player, a hell of a player. I’m speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I don’t know why everybody’s so stuck on that. I said it two years ago.
“I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.”
Hammon, whose coaching has led the Aces to three WNBA titles in the last four seasons, has personal ties to the current NBA playoff picture.
The Hall of Fame player previously suited up for the San Antonio Silver Stars — the franchise that later relocated to Las Vegas and transformed into the Aces — and subsequently served as an assistant coach with the Spurs organization under coach Gregg Popovich.
“Oh, you know who I’m cheering for,” Hammon said.
