
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon admitted she was wrong about Jalen Brunson's ability to lead the New York Knicks to an NBA championship, calling his performance historic, but she refused to apologize for her initial opinion.
AI-generated summary
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon twice on Tuesday acknowledged what Jalen Brunson accomplished in leading the New York Knicks to the NBA championship was historic and her âopinion was wrong,â but she offered no apology for her previous comments.
Hammon spoke to reporters at the Aces shootaround earlier in the day and then before Las Vegasâ home game against the New York Liberty. In the pregame news conference, Hammon opened by making a point to say she was wrong that the 6ft 2in point guard was too small to lead the Knicks to the title.
Brunson was named NBA finals MVP after guiding the Knicks to victory over the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 45 points in the title-clinching game.
Hammon made her original comments on ESPN in December 2023, saying Brunson wasnât a â1A dude.â
She was asked about her remarks at Aces shootaround.
âJalen, all he did was prove history wrong,â Hammon said. âHe proves heâs an outlier, so you can put his name next to Steph Curry and Isiah Thomas. I thought he played brilliantly, especially down the stretch. I mean, he was that 1A dude. But apologize? Iâm never going to apologize for having an opinion. Thatâs what ESPN pays me for.â
This isnât the first time in recent weeks she defended her original comments. Hammon also was asked her opinion after Brunson was named Eastern Conference final MVP when the Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers.
âI think Jalen Brunsonâs a hell of a player, a hell of a player,â Hammon said on 26 May. âIâm speaking historically on the NBA with what I said. I donât know why everybodyâs so stuck on that. I said it two years ago. I said what I said. If he proves me wrong, he proves me wrong.â

Marcus Rashford returned to Manchester United after loans at Aston Villa and Barcelona, receiving a warm chant from fans despite past tensions with manager Ruben Amorim. Under Michael Carrick, Rashford showed effort and involvement in a match against Hull, creating chances without scoring, as Carrick praised his attitude and noted the need for patience in rebuilding his role amid squad development and tactical adjustments.

London City Women's Football Club, under owner Michele Kang, has undergone significant changes with high-profile signings like Alexia Putellas, Mary Earps, and Mapi LeĂłn, aiming for Champions League qualification despite a ÂŁ10.6m operating loss and managerial instability, with home games at Hayes Lane in Bromley limiting ambitions due to capacity constraints.

Joe Root called on England players to celebrate their 2-0 Test series lead over Pakistan in a sensible, grown-up manner after securing the win at Lordâs, citing past off-field scandals and emphasizing the difficulty of winning Test matches. He also addressed his own poor batting form, criticized the ballâs condition affecting bats and wickets, and noted Pakistanâs Mohammad Abbas acknowledged improvement despite admitting dissatisfaction with performance.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick stated that teenage winger Lamine Yamal is regaining his top form after a hamstring injury and limited World Cup impact, expressing confidence in his progress ahead of the La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano.

Aaron Donald, 35, is coming out of retirement to rejoin the Los Angeles Rams on a one-year deal worth up to $30 million with bonuses. The eight-time All-Pro and three-time Defensive Player of the Year retired in March 2024 after winning Super Bowl LVI with the Rams. He returns to a roster featuring Matthew Stafford and newly acquired Myles Garrett, with the Rams opening their season against the 49ers on September 10.

Real Madrid defeated promoted Malaga 4-0 at home, with Jude Bellingham scoring early, an own goal from Alfonso Herrero, and goals from Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler. The win leaves Madrid nine points from three matches, two clear of Atletico Madrid and Alaves.