Jalen Brunson Talks Leaving Mavs for NY & Responds to Becky Hammon | Full Interview w/ Chris Haynes

Jalen, I appreciate you coming on you just had you know, you played last night had a tough one against Golden State How long does it take for you to kind of like to get about what happened the other game and move on to the next? I try and You know if I want to dwell on it or feel bad for myself the rest of that night or day I'll let that happen. But as soon as I wake up the next day, it's got to move on from that. So I try and just Try and get over the next day So, I know you got you have a approach a certain approach a professional approach about how to Get over games like that. I want to talk about that later on But you know as it pertains to let me just get this out the way Jay I want to make get this out the way it's kind of been an elephant in the room over the last 15 or so hours the play there was a play in a clip of Chris Paul running into you you falling on the ground and then he comes over to reach his hand out to ask You know try to get you up and you declined it. I Kind of know some backstory, but can you explain what happened in and people want to know? What did you say to Chris Paul when he tried to extend his hand? Well first I got the most respect for Chris I've known him for Since high school. He's a great relationship with my dad. And so It's all love before the game. I said hi to him before the game. I said hi I said hi after the game during the game I mean if I get knocked down, I prefer my teammates to help me out no matter what the situation is. And so I Mean he came to pick me up. I was just like no I can't right now. That's that's all I said Yeah, no, he told he told me he said that's what you said He said he said you said I can't I can't I got I gotta let my teammates get in But you know social media is they they start putting words in your mouth that you say, you know Like them or whatever, you know, I'm saying so I want it. I wanted you to want you to clear that up Jay so when you think about man your role and I've been yeah watch some of your other interviews you did recently and I don't Want to rehash? everything you said before but I think when you know when I look at you Jay you have a You're a quiet individual and for someone to be so quiet You know you you you still have your critics. You still have people that critique you or say you can't do such-and-such Are you a player that's motivated by that because I know there's there's players that do get motivated by criticism and they'll say it verbally But we don't we don't catch you saying that so even though you may not say it Are you motivated by people who doubt you? There's there's a little bit motivation I think It's impossible to not see things are said about me or the team Nowadays because of social media you're gonna see it regardless whether you have it or not For me I just I try not to worry about it, but like it gets to a point in time or like this obviously constant doubt and people say things or Voice their opinions about about you, but for me. I try not to listen to anything positive or negative Now because you can't listen to the positive and all of a sudden think you're not going to listen to negative It doesn't work like that, so I try not to listen to either but um You know sometimes things are saying I think about it. I'm just like hmm I'll just keep that in the back of my mind for a little bit, but I don't I don't use it as a motivation I don't put it in the forefront of my mind, but uh I remember I remember everything Okay, well I want I want to bring up two critiques in particular. I remember when I was reporting on your free agency Where you were gonna go? Who was looking at you? And I remember when I reported a number a number that the the Knicks were offering And and you know at that time a lot of people didn't see you play in Dallas They didn't know what you were capable of and so there were a lot of people saying man. It's overpaying They're overpaying and then you look look today They're definitely not saying that now, but when you heard that back then What was your mindset going into New York after hearing people say all the Knicks overpaid? My mindset stayed the same Like I said positive or negative people are gonna talk about you no matter what the situation is especially in this business, so Truly I didn't really think about it because I knew how hard I worked I knew What I'd put into this game, and so it really didn't affect me as much as people think it would have I Have my close circle at the people who support me at the people who believe in me I most importantly believe in myself and so All that noise it just goes to one ear not the other And the other last one on critiques, and how you handle it Becky is is one Becky Hammons, and she she recently doubled down again and saying that She I guess she doesn't believe that You can be the 1a player on a championship team. I think she tried to clarify that she she said I Guess she thought it was getting taken out of context that she's saying that you're not a 1a But she said you are 1a She just doesn't know if you could be a 1a on a championship team you guys you're a fourth In the Eastern Conference standings right now you still without og and you still without Julius Randall you guys aren't old yet So there's a lot of potential to grow, but when you hear that What what comes to mind? Honestly I just Everyone's entitled to their opinion and so whether she's like double down or not or whatever she was Talking about the one true thing is that we haven't won anything yet, and so For me whether I'm a 1a or 1b or whatever you want to call me. I don't that doesn't really matter to me I got to find a way to help my team win as best I can and Just go from there. I don't think it's I Don't really think it's that big of a deal whether she thinks it or not like People are gonna talk people are gonna say what they want to believe I Gotta go out there and do my best to help my team one, and that's all I can care about Then before I did a little research J. I wouldn't asked around To your old your old neighborhood in the Dallas Mavericks I wouldn't talk around and asked about like what was it like coaching you? You know just seeing you evolve seeing you develop into this type of player And I'm not gonna name names, but somebody from the Mavericks is still there told me that on road games You would have y'all have road games And you will find a way a lot of times to go to the other teams Practice facility to get shots up and I've never heard I never heard that before like really for any player First person since that that is true It wouldn't be their practice facility it would be a gym I Will find a gym sometimes we had access to like the arena or the facility or something But from the most part I was I was trying to find Just trying to find a gym more times than not what I say every time no, but more times than not Why why was that important like why I mean you got shoot around you got practice every day like why was why did you feel? Like you still need to put that the extra effort in during the regular season um I think it's more mental than anything like I'm not going out there and shooting for an hour and Basically doing like a summer workout I think for me. It's a lot of form. It's a lot of just rhythm. It's a lot of technique free throws It's it's all about my mental approach to make sure I'm locked in It's like studying for a test. No Like you were studying this whole time for a test you won't get you want to get? one more quick run through before you go and play your game and so It's just it's how I've been I think The tradition hasn't changed the only thing that's changed down in New York is that I go I may not go the night before but I'll go the morning. I'll go before shoot around Before shoot around starts. I'll get my little quick like mental my own little shoot around going so Yeah, that hasn't that hasn't changed for people that don't understand like How much? More he's doing on game days like game days are pretty much sacred coaches Don't do not want players overexert themselves. And so shoot arounds aren't even like real practices It's like you you walk through you're going through walkthroughs or you plays and set up. So Jalen is telling you he's getting up early and Going getting a warm-up in getting his shots up Then going to shoot around and then you still have your pregame routine that you go through before the game So that's that's that's a lot or NBA player on a game day So I want you guys understand like that's not the norm right there. I want to I want to get one question in real quick Jenna from one of the People in the in the chat. This is from I He says do you think your career will be where it where it is if you did not let me see if you did not leave if you did not leave Dallas, I think my career would definitely be different and Because one change is difficult like in anything you do and so for me to go from Dallas to New York was a obviously difficult Decision, but just because I was comfortable in Dallas just went to the conference finals The group liked each other we were all like bought into each other and so to go from Dallas to New York We're just it was different roles. And so I had the opportunity to kind of grow and See a different role and see what I could do in that role. And so I Think it would be a little different if I was still in Dallas Would I be what I had the same mindset and all this stuff? Yeah, definitely But like my role was definitely different in Dallas and I loved it because I was attributing to winning basketball. And so the fact I was able to grow and Help an organization like this and still winning was the most important thing. It's um, it's definitely helped my career and I'm really thankful Did I have no I'm 40 now, but you know, I can look back over my life and I can think about Certain life changes decisions that I made and some I'd be like damn God like I should I should have went the other way. I did that whatever so when you're going through that decision It's look at it from a different perspective So when you're going through that decision It looks easy now It looks like hey you made the right decision because a lot of people are scared to go to New York, especially going to New York and being a Player that's going to be a focal point all the pressure the stress, you know, they haven't had a lot of Winning seasons as of late and so there's pressure that comes with that. And so was it easy? You know in hindsight going back was it easy was it easy decision for you then or did it weigh on you? Were you wrestling? Were you going back and forth? Can you explain that that process? No, it was definitely tough. It was definitely a tough decision. I Got drafted by your organization and believed in me. And so To kind of Move on and go to New York. Yeah, it's it's not easy. But um, I Was really asking everyone's opinion like in my circle the people I trusted people I believe and they're just saying a goat like go with what you believe go with your gut and everything and so It's it's difficult to make choices like that, but obviously I'm happy that I've been able to be in the situation I'm in now But yeah, it's not easy I mean you look back on things like There's some decision my damn. I wish I didn't do that. But like obviously I'm really happy with the decision I made and I still have relationships over there in Dallas and yeah, it's just I Did what's best for me for them for the most part of my entire basketball career. I've always thought about like How can I help my team? What can I what decision can I make to help my team? It's one of the only few times where you can look and think like I what can I do is best for myself in my career and It's difficult to make a decision like that and I had the one opportunity to do so so I try my best to take full advantage of it Jason Kidd told me He said his goal he said he told you his goal was to get you paid When he told you that What did you see from him? Which which allows you to? to to have the freedom to blossom and In order to get paid and become a guy that's averaging almost 30 and an all-star now what what did what did Jason Kidd? Mean to your your growth as the all-star player now he helped a lot jk does he was special and The that was our first conversation. I remember we were on the practice court and And we started talking within like two to three sentences. That was the first thing he said So, you know, we're trying to get you paid I kind of looked at him like that's oddly like real of you to say that like that's real of you to say that and you don't I never been a situation where someone said that to me and obviously the contract here, but uh yeah, so him saying that and then kind of the way he allowed me to grow the way he let me to play and Like showed that So then that's where my trust and belief came in with him and He definitely helped jumpstart me to get to where I am. And so even before that even having like Rick Carlisle as a coach When I was on the court, he allowed me to play and then there was just like it was like a steady growth every Year, and so when I had Jake kid for that one year It was just another step to push me to be where I am when I got the tips It was another step. And so it's always been I've been taking gradual steps and Yeah, Jake kid and he was a real one for that without a doubt Shout out to Jake here. Nick's fan Justin. All right, throwing you for a curveball here So bear with me Jalen. His question is Jalen You are stranded on an island and out and it can only choose one friend. Who are you choosing Josh or Dante? One thing about Josh Josh always has a limited snacks and food. That's all that's one thing. He always got that always Josh when I call 99.9% of the time he's gonna answer or he's on texting back. So y'all call you back. I Support a love. I love Dante The days I call Dante I ain't get a peep back But still even if I don't get that I think I might trust Dante more than Josh. I don't know man. I'd rather just I Rather be alone. I'd rather be alone What I'll tell you right now Josh Hart's unlimited supply of snacks and goodies man, they ain't coming to you no more Jalen I'll tell you that man Oh When you look at the the Knicks What are you guys capable of like I know you waiting to get you know Get the whole team whole like what are you got teams out there Milwaukee Boston? Dallas Clippers Championship or bus even in Miami Heat even though they are not High in the standards right now. Those are you know championship or or bus type of teams? What what would you say you guys fall in right now, I think we're in a good spot obviously we're fourth right now But like we're also one game out of eight. So I mean the East is definitely no Grown as a whole like that the whole four through eight is it's crazy right now for us I think we're in a good spot where we have kind of established ourselves as a Decent team, but we still have a long way to go to be where we actually want to be and so The fact that we know that like hey, like we're good, but we got a lot of work to do It's kind of a best-case Best-case scenario right now because we can continue to keep working continue to have high hopes for us to continue to get better obviously, we want to get healthy and um, but until then it's a next-gen mentality and so We're we're we're in a great spot. We gotta continue to believe I Got a few more questions. They're not I'll get you out of here, man I I got a well, I'm actually this before I put you on the spot I'm gonna ask you Who was your toughest cover out there in the league, but I want you to think on that real quick But before I get to that question How tough was it coming up? Father played in the NBA, right? I know your pops. He's a real demanding guy How tough was that growing up to have that shadow of a guy and his presence? Training you teaching you Like did you feel you had to try to live up? Did you feel you had to make it to the league? Like just can you just tell me about that dynamic because a lot of a lot of sons who have successful fathers They might fold they might stop playing lose love for the game. What was your upbringing like with Rick as your father? um Wouldn't change it for the world first and foremost would not change it everything we went through happened for a reason and so With him push me every single day Was it fun? Absolutely not. It was not fun, but It got me to the point where? It made me believe in myself night in and night out Even when there's times I'm I'm losing confidence the next day I'm back to where I am because I know that's how hard I work. So We can actually start back even pre Like basketball training with my dad like when he was in the league. He was a journeyman he was on eight teams or he's on yeah eight teams in nine different years and so All unguaranteed contracts like that's not guaranteed until like a certain point in January or whatever the date is. And so That's that's why he that's how he his Career went I didn't understand that as a kid. I thought my dad was an NBA. He's on this team He's on that team. It's just it's part of the part of whatever In the summertime watching him work out three times a day me Riding a bike while he's running on the side of the road and in one of those like track suits with like the sweat suits like Like the real sweat the real sweatsuits and and then him going to the gym and shooting and then him Lifting weights and then go and play and pick up at night or during the day like that was like everyday thing And so for me to see that as a kid I'm like, all right, this dude just loves basketball. I'm gonna love basketball because he loves it like he's But as I got older and I started actually quit every other sport I played when I was younger and started to focus on basketball Got to the point where I started thinking like damn this dude was doing this this this Almost every single day just to be on unguaranteed contracts. I'm like like damn This dude is really working his ass off every single day And so once I got older and I realized that what he was doing back then I gotta work If I want to do this, I gotta work. I gotta work And so whether I was no matter I was crying because he lost or I was happy or I was happy Because he lost or I was happy or I was pissed off during a workout with my dad the question that him my mom always used to ask me was is this what you want to do for a living and The answer was no matter what my is always yes, so it was never like I'm forcing you to do this It's always like you told me you wanted to do this. So I'm gonna push you towards this And so while I was whatever emotion I was in that time I May be pissed off and be happy. That was like They're right. And so my dad always told me whatever you work for Right, your dreams are gonna come true if you do this and this and this if you work hard You're gonna be McDonald's on American. You're gonna see a championship Check check that happened. All right, if I do this, you can win that championship You're if you are starring your role your freshman year You can win a championship boom one national change for my freshman year If you knew this you can be your biggies play the year this this this you write all these goals down and believe it Thank you. You can do it. You can do it biggies play of the year all-americans National winner another national championship. So all these things he's telling me that I write these goals down and do it just work and work and work and believe myself I Mean, how am I now? Am I not supposed to believe like he's telling me like this is what this is the formula for it So a lot of people see like the video at all He just put he was another dad just like push this kid to the brink whatever Yeah, he did but that's what I wanted and then once I got to the age So I knew that I had to do something about it. It made life so much easier I knew when he was being a dad He's being a coach and we're on the court as coach as soon as you walk off the court as that Hmm that's deep man. You got me a spot. I'm about to go get some push-ups Hey, so you got those goals the goals that they haven't stopped J what what's the next one? What's next? goal those goals When they happen will be revealed for me is a person Respecters respect number respect. So real quick J of the toughest guard for you out there I'll say he's not he's not really he's not he's not in the lead right now, but Man I'll give you I'll give you let me see if I can explain this, right? like when it comes to like guarding like players like Kyrie or Steph and all that like They're just different like they're gonna make tough shots Like you may be able to stay in front of them But like if you do or don't they're gonna make tough shots. So like for me, that's like I'm there but he makes it whatever whatever a person who made me look like an idiot I felt like a idiot every time I got him was Kemba Straight up. Come on. Yeah Charlotte Kim Kemba had Kemba had like B when he when he stopped on the dime I was still going like another two three four steps. I Gotta go back that way. He's gonna come back and cause this way. I'm like he was it was Yeah, it was that That was never fun That was I rather take a charge. I'm like on on like No kits or somebody like 7-4 and B didn't happen to do that Now there are certain guys you just can't figure out they got your number Kimba shot to him He had the killer step back to like he did it in college brought it brought it to the NBA So shout the Kimba so one last question for you of J I'm gonna let a fan do the honors. Uh All right. Here's an easy one. This is from Gary He asked Jalen, who is your favorite left-handed player of all time? I mean There's not a lot of but I'll be wrong if I don't see my dad. I'll be very wrong. Okay, I don't but uh He taught me everything he taught me everything Respect that Jalen man. Listen, I know you got I know you got No, no, it has to be that not has to be that You have a 1b a 1b All my favorite players going up a right-handed so like okay Has to be dad. That's me. That's pop. It's pop. It's only right. It's only right Jalen man. Listen, man I've enjoyed watching you just blossom your career just looming skyward ups man up and you know you're doing big things man, and I like the fact that uh You're professional man pops your mom, you know, you definitely come from good background, man I like how you handle yourself with it with the questions and uh, you know I I just I wanted to I wanted to and I think I like that you doing interviews now because I think there's a side of you that people don't know and You know, you're only gonna get bigger. So it's always good for us to get a little peek behind the curtain You know how JB really is behind the scenes. So man, I thank you for coming on my show man real talk last minute as well Man, but thank you, man. You always have a platform here, but I appreciate of course, of course. I appreciate it Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you. That is New York Knicks all-star point guard Jalen Brunson