Jalen Brunson gave his most pointed dig yet at his doubters.
The Knicks star delivered a message to the haters at City Hall after the team paraded through the Canyon of Heroes on Thursday morning as they celebrated winning their first NBA title in 53 years.
As Brunson stepped up to the microphone, he received “MVP” chants from the crowd.
He went on to make a speech, emphasizing he “wouldn’t trade this for the world” and concluded with a message to the doubters.
“There’s a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say. There’s a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you really don’t have to say s–t to them,” Brunson said.
Jalen Brunson speaks during the Knicks’ championship celebration at City Hall on June 18, 2026. AFP via Getty Images
The comment received a boom of cheers from the crowd and Brunson opened his mouth as if he was going to add to his statement, but instead he said, “Nah, they don’t deserve it. Appreciate y’all. Thank you!”
He also added: “I want to say thank you to Jim Dolan and the front office for believing in a kid no one else would.”
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Brunson has been consistent with his non-clap back to those who didn’t believe he was an “1A” player that could lead a team to a championship.
In the press conference following the 94-90 Game 5 victory in San Antonio, the three-time All-Star was asked about those comments and gave a direct answer, similar to what he said Thursday.
“I didn’t respond to them then, I’m damn sure not gonna respond to them now,” he said.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11, with Mariska Hargitay and his dad Rick, with the Championship trophy riding on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway through Lower Manhattan’s historic Canyon of Heroes. Charles Wenzelberg / New York PostThe biggest critic with that take on Brunson has been Aces head coach Becky Hammon.
Hammon said the inital take two years ago during an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today” and was asked again about it in May.
She doubled down on her opinion before adding, “I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.”
Brunson did indeed.
Knicks guard Jalen Brunson #11, carrying the Championship trophy along Broadway through Lower Manhattan’s historic Canyon of Heroes. Erik Pendzich / BACKGRIDHe was named Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the championship-winning Game 5 on Saturday and proved to be a unanimous selection for the Bill Russell Trophy among 11 voters.
Brunson is one of only three other players to score 45 or more points in a closeout Finals game.
During Thursday’s parade, he soaked in the title win, lifting the Larry O’Brien championship trophy among crazed Knicks fans in a packed lower Manhattan alongside wife Ali and daughter Jordyn, who turns 2 in July.
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“Law & Order: SVU” star Mariska Hargitay and longtime Knicks fan Spike Lee joined the Brunson float as well.
One Knicks assistant has caught the eye of at least one other team.
Chris Jent is a candidate for Trail Blazers head coach, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported Thursday. Jent just completed his first season with the Knicks as an associate head coach. He was responsible for running the offense.
After Game 5 of the Finals, coach Mike Brown raved about Jent: “Chris Jent — by the way, there are a lot of jobs open out there,” Brown said. “Chris Jent, my associate head coach, I am surprised he has not gotten an interview. He won the Summer League championship this past summer. He’s our offensive coordinator and associate head coach. … He’s been around for a long time. You guys, somebody needs to give him an interview, because he will help your team win at the highest level.”
