76ers’ Kelly Oubre says Knicks’ Jalen Brunson has ‘big head’
GREENBURGH — Jalen Brunson’s elite footwork, excessive basketball IQ and killer intuition are all generally cited traits that make him one of many hardest gamers to cowl within the NBA.
But his head dimension?
Yes, Brunson’s head dimension and the very fact he flails it round and might whip individuals along with his braids is apparently one of many issues that makes the Knicks guard a troublesome participant to protect, in keeping with Philadelphia guard Kelly Oubre Jr.
“Obviously, he has a big head,” Oubre stated Tuesday, the day after Brunson scored 35 factors to assist lead the Knicks to a 137-98 victory in Game 1 for his or her Eastern Conference semifinal series. “It’s definitely hard to cover him with his head [flailing around].”
Oubre’s reply was up to now on the market {that a} good minute glided by earlier than somebody requested him if he was joking or if Brunson’s head actually bought in the best way.
“It’s a little of both. I’m sure. He’s got the braids,” stated Oubre, who together with rookie VJ Edgecombe was Brunson’s main defender. “He’s a very smart tactical player, so he uses all that to his advantage. But yeah, I’ll be there. He can whip me all he wants. But you’re not getting free like that.”
Oubre’s feedback had been made Tuesday after the 76ers’ video session at a Midtown Manhattan resort. Later within the day, Brunson was not one of many gamers who spoke after Knicks apply in Westchester. Oubre’s feedback had been relayed to teammates Josh Hart and Miles McBride. And this is the bizarre factor: No one disputed that Brunson has an enormous head.
“I feel like that was something that is very well documented,” Hart stated concerning the dimension of his longtime teammate’s head. “So I don’t think that it was any shocker when he said that one.”
Brunson’s head dimension has been a working joke with Hart, who was additionally his teammate at Villanova. When the 2 had been on “Late Night With Seth Meyers” two years in the past, Hart stated {that a} bobblehead that had been made to honor Brunson was “the first time they made a bobblehead the actual size of a head.”
Hart, nevertheless, stated he has by no means seen Brunson use his head and braids to get a bonus.
“I never noticed it,” Hart stated. “Trust me, if I did, I probably would have copied the same hairstyle, so maybe I would have got a couple more buckets or something like that. But that’s an interesting analysis.”
McBride, who has needed to guard Brunson in apply, laughed loudly when instructed of Oubre’s feedback.
“I don’t know if it’s a secret weapon or not,” McBride stated. “But he’s talented, so he’s going to figure it out, regardless of head size or not.”