Jalen Brunson has a healthy banter with Udonis Haslem
The New York Knicks advanced to the semifinals of the NBA Cup after defeating the Toronto Raptors 117-101 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday at Scotiabank Arena.
The Knicks will take on the Orlando Magic in Las Vegas on Saturday. Magic won Miami Heat117-108, to advance to the next round.
Jalen Brunson carried New York again with a career-high 35 points on 13-of-19 shooting, including 6-of-9 from deep. He also had three rebounds and four steals.
After the win, he was interviewed on “NBA on Prime,” with Udonis Haslem asking him about a specific play in which Mikal Bridges “ran all the way around the baseline” before receiving a pass from Brunson. Haslem claimed he hasn’t seen that since the Heat took on the San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals a few years ago.
Brunson’s honest answer caught Haslem off guard.
“When did you retire?” Brunson asked, drawing a laugh from the three-time champion.
“You knocked us out of the playoffs two years ago. You led it. So what are you talking about, you haven’t seen that since the Spurs? You led it with Max Struss.”
“You knocked us out of the playoffs…”
This moment in between @jalenbrunson1 & @ThisIsUD remembering the last time they faced each other in the postseason 😆 pic.twitter.com/5u3bnK0kIp
— NBA (@NBA) December 10, 2025
Haslem, 45, had to agree after Brunson jogged his memory.
“Yeah, you’re right. Max did that a few years ago,” Haslem replied.
While it was a healthy moment, it also showed Brunson’s high basketball IQ. The fact that he hasn’t forgotten the play the opposing team played two years ago speaks to his mental acuity.
Maybe next time, Brunson can remind Haslem of how he once dropped 38 points on the Heat in the playoffs.
2025-12-10 07:09:00
