Three years after Becky Hammon sparked backlash for calling Jalen Brunson “too small” to lead a championship team, that take is suddenly aging very well. With the New York Knicks now down 2-1 in their first-round series, fans are revisiting Hammon’s 2023 comments and starting to admit she may have been right all along.

“Jalen Brunson is too small,” Hammon said. “My philosophy, if your best player is small, you’re not winning [championships].” The Aces coach faced immense scrutiny for these comments, with fans trolling her, media analysts, and even the Knicks head coach, Tom Thibodeau, dismissing them as mere “chatter.”

That conversation resurfaced immediately after the Knicks dropped Game 3 to the Atlanta Hawks (109-108). A viral post summed up the mood: “The apology to Becky Hammon should be as loud as the disrespect was on her when she said this about Jalen Brunson.”

And the timing wasn’t random. In a tight Game 3, Brunson finished with 26 points and 4 assists, but his 0-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc stood out in a one-point loss where every possession mattered.

Brunson has been an efficient three-point shooter, nowhere near Stephen Curry territory but reliable enough to punish defenses. That made his scoreless night from deep even more glaring. On the other end, his size once again became a disadvantage, as Atlanta repeatedly targeted him in perimeter actions.

The Hawks escaped with the win and now lead the series 2-1, which has only amplified Hammon’s original point in the eyes of fans.

Becky Hammon Finally Gets Her Flowers Three Years Later

“She’s one of the best coaches in the WNBA. She was one of Pop’s disciples as an assistant in San Antonio. She knows ball,” a fan wrote.

“Becky coached in the NBA for years; she has the pedigree to make a comment like this and be correct 🤣” remarked another. 

What fans often overlook is Hammon’s résumé. She isn’t just a top-tier WNBA coach with the Aces but also spent nearly seven years in the NBA as an assistant with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich. Add in her six All-Star appearances as a player, and her perspective carries serious weight.

And when you look at the concerns she flagged during her assignment, all of its coming true. For instance, during her explanation of the Jalen Brunson comments in 2023, Hammon highlighted that the NY Knicks need a strong defensive player. “They’re, well-coached, they’re going to be on their defensive game, but at the end of the day, they don’t have a dude,” she had said.

Game 3 reflected that concern. While Brunson carried the offensive load, Atlanta attacked him defensively. The Hawks shot over 50% from the field when he was the closest defender, including north of 65% on two-pointers, reinforcing the defensive limitations Hammon pointed out.

“Real ball knowers always knew she was right,” stated a fan. 

“Well she was very right. It happened to IT in Boston and you can tell, same with Trae in Atlanta. You CANT hide a bad small defender,” chimed in another. 

Another fan pointed out that this isn’t a new issue. From Isaiah Thomas to Trae Young, smaller guards have historically been targeted defensively in high-stakes games. That context is exactly why many fans now believe Hammon’s take wasn’t wrong at all.

“She’s right. Jalen won’t bring Knicks a chip. 👀” summed up another. 

That said, it’s far from a closed case. Brunson has been outstanding during his Knicks tenure, consistently putting up 20-plus points and serving as the team’s offensive engine. Even with physical limitations, he remains their most important player.

The real challenge for New York is compensating for those defensive gaps. With key contributors like Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby alongside Brunson, the supporting cast, including Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, will need to elevate their play to balance both ends of the floor.

All in all, it will be interesting to see how the New York Knicks and Jalen Brunson bounce back from their defeat in the third game of the series. Their next game is on April 25. Meanwhile, Hammon, on the other hand, will be tipping off her WNBA season as well with the Las Vegas Aces.

With stars like A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray leading the way, the Aces once again look like contenders heading into the season. They open preseason play on May 3 against the Dallas Wings.