Jalen Brunson had some interesting comments about one of his Knicks teammates who was dealt quite the harsh blow.
In a surprising result, the New York Knicks kept their playoff hopes alive by defeating the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
This win was a morale booster, not just for the players but for Knicks fans, as they now have hope about a comeback.
One of the key decisions turned out to be Tom Thibodeau’s benching of Josh Hart in place of Mitchell Robinson, which gave the Knicks a whole new dynamic.
Thibodeau stood firm on the call as both Hart and Robinson excelled at a high level. But Jalen Brunson made an admission about the decision that few fans were in the know of.
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Jalen Brunson spoke to reporters after Game 3. When talking about the role Josh Hart played from the bench, Brunson praised his Villanova and Knicks teammate.
The All-Star guard claimed Hart prioritized winning over any personal role. For Hart, the most important thing is getting the right result for the team.
“He wants to win, and it just shows who he is as a person, as a player, and as a teammate. He doesn’t care about anything individual. It’s the true testament of a great teammate.”
This team-oriented mindset is brilliant from Hart, who is proving to be invaluable to the Knicks, far beyond the numbers he puts up on the scoresheet.
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It wasn’t just Josh Hart that showed a new element to his game and mentality. After a rough first two games, Karl-Anthony Towns stepped up as Jalen Brunson struggled.
Kendrick Perkins believes Towns sent a message to Tom Thibodeau for benching him in the fourth quarter in Game 2.
For the most part, Thibs defended benching Towns. Despite the overwhelming criticism from the likes of Stephen A. Smith and others.
If the Knicks use their Game 3 win as the catalyst for an unlikely comeback, it will be a coaching masterclass from Thibodeau.
