Charles Barkley is a menace! New York Knicks superstar Jalen Brunson was roped in for an appearance in ‘Inside the NBA’ ahead of the All-Star weekend. As a first-time starter, Brunson was heavy on his emotions. The point guard took the big stage to praise his father Rick, who has molded his career from the very beginning. Sharing insights from his childhood, the Knicks star credited his dad. However, Barkley did not want Rick Brunson to get all the flowers.
JB had a father who played in the NBA for nine seasons. He was a notable defender for the Knicks back in the late 90s. Right when he was sharing his thoughts about his dad’s hard work, Barkley chimed in and added hilariously, “You are a much better player than Rick…Hey Rick, you were supposed to be a defender and a playmaker. No disrespect Rick, he[Jalen] is the best player in the family“. From the looks of it, Charles Barkley did not want Rick Brunson to have his moment on live TV!
The NBA veteran might have not been an MJ of the game, but as a coach, he found a lot of success, especially through Jalen. Young Jalen was 9 years old when his dad retired. The 51-year-old then quickly switched to the coaching side. His primary mission was to help his son make it to the top. Well, now it has turned into a full circle. The Brunson duo both represent the Knicks, one as a player, and the other as an assistant coach! However, today’s moment on live TV seemed like a sort of Déjà vu. Here’s why.
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Jalen Brunson once took shots at his own father, amid a similar taunt by Charles Barkley!
Well, we cannot blame Charles Barkley for his light-hearted comment on Rick anymore. Jalen Brunson himself did it after a playoff series win in May 2022. The 27-year-old had joined the ‘Inside the NBA’ crew. After his impressive performance, CB questioned him, “You had a hell of a series…the biggest question is have you surpassed your dad as the best player ?“. Kenny Smith chimed in, “His dad was a passer, not a scorer”.
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Read More: Jalen Brunson Trolls Own Father With Hilarious Taunt at Ex-Knicks Star After 41-point Outing
Ernie Johnson thought Jalen Brunson would take offense, but he shared, “Oh come on man, stop that! He wasn’t even a player compared to me”. This unexpected response cracked up the entire crew. Well, it looks like the banter will never stop. It was nice of him to give Rick some credit on the All-Star selection!
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