Josh Hart Demands Apologies from Critics
Josh Hart recently pressured Stephen A. Smith to apologize for his critiques of Jalen Brunson and is now turning his attention to Becky Hammon.
While he didn’t directly mention Hammon, who’s the current head coach of the WNBA’s Aces after serving as an assistant for the Spurs, Hart indicated during a live taping of “The Roommates Show” at Madison Square Garden that he’s keeping tabs on past criticisms.
Hart and Brunson, both champions from their time at Villanova and now teammates on the Knicks, co-host the podcast together.
“I’m not going to name any names,” Hart said. “But I’m still waiting for someone to admit they were wrong about the guy who helped us reach the Finals and clinched our first championship in 53 years.”
During the show, the crowd began chanting “Becky!” in response to Hart’s comments.
“I’m still waiting for something,” Hart continued. “We expect an apology, right? They know how to reach the media.”
Hammon previously made headlines in 2023 by claiming that Brunson, at 6-foot-2, was too small to be a vital player on a championship squad. She suggested he didn’t belong in the upper echelon of superstars.
“You can’t win if your best player is small,” she stated during an appearance on ESPN’s “NBA Today.”
Even when given a chance to retract her comments last month as the Knicks became serious contenders, Hammon reaffirmed her stance.
“What I said reflects NBA history,” she emphasized. “I don’t understand why people are hung up on it. I said it two years ago, and I stand by it. There’s nothing to clarify. I said what I said.”
“If he proves me wrong, great for him, but I still believe the top two teams are in the West.”
The Knicks, however, triumphed over the Spurs in five games to secure their first NBA title since 1973.
Hart had previously challenged Smith during the podcast to apologize for his doubts regarding Brunson both in college and after he signed with the Knicks. Surprisingly, Smith complied.
When asked about critics who don’t see him as a top-tier player after winning the championship, Brunson replied, “I didn’t respond to them then, and I probably won’t now.”
Looking ahead, Hammon’s Aces are scheduled to face the Valkyries on Sunday, followed by a matchup against Liberty on Tuesday, and a game against New York on June 30th.
