Knicks' Jalen Brunson sparks Trae Young-level hate over controversial move
03/05/2024 06:52
Trae Young is still a hated man in New York Knicks universe, but the bitterness of Knickerbockers fans toward the Atlanta Hawks fans may just be lesser than what Philadelphia 76ers fans are feeling about Jalen Brunson at the moment.
If Young is wondering why he trended on social media Thursday night despite the Hawks’ inactivity, he only needs to check out what Brunson did in Game 6 of the Knicks vs. 76ers series to see the big picture.
Jalen Brunson has 76ers fans blowing their tops after Knicks win
Many 76ers fans have their arms raised over a Jalen Brunson move that supposedly shouldn’t be allowed anymore in the league. Philly supporters question why the refs let the Knicks point guard get away with a foul-baiting tactic that uses the defender’s momentum to set up the trap.
Brunson made a living on the free throw line in the 76ers series. In Game 6, he went 12/16 from the charity stripe — the most he had in a game during the Knicks-76ers first round matchup. He finished the game with 41 points as well and shot 13/27 from the floor with 12 assists and three rebounds in 44 minutes. Overall in the series, Brunson averaged 10.5 attempts from the foul line and shot 77.8 percent from there. For comparison, Brunson averaged just 6.5 free throw attempts back in the 2023-24 NBA regular season and only 6.1 per outing since becoming a Knick.
“Brunson just jumped BACKWARDS and got a shooting foul in his favor. It's Trae Young all over again man. He's got 14 free throws and we're only in the 3rd. But, nobody cares bc it isn't Joel Embiid,” posted @AidanLaPorta69 on X (formerly Twitter).
“Jalen Brunson literally does what Trae Young got "banned" in 2021, but continues to get rewarded for it!!!!” added @AidanLaPorta69.
Jalen Brunson literally does what Trae Young got "banned" in 2021, but continues to get rewarded for it!!!!
pic.twitter.com/VQwO5m3Nd7— Aidan LaPorta (@AidanLaPorta69) May 3, 2024
“I'm old enough to remember when the NBA outlawed the foul where the guard backs up into his defender. Trae Young can't but Jalen Brunson can? Help me understand,” a confused @ScottReif1 wondered.
“Jalen Brunson is Trae Young with New York PR example No. 400 from this series,” said @KyleNeubeck.
From Tomer Azarly of ClutchPoints: “That's what I'm saying man. NBA made it a rule to make those Chris Paul/Trae Young unnatural foul baiting moves offensive fouls and then just… stopped?”
“Brunson is f*****g getting every Trae Young foul the league said they banned. This man is unbearable to watch,” an angry @vizaay727 chimed in about the Knicks star’s foul-baiting ways.
“They gave them game 2 they even admitted It after the game on the 2 min report, they get call that trae young got banned for, jumping backwards into your defender shouldn't be a foul will be back I'm saving this, this upcoming year is ours,” shared @Levitatexbl.
Via @LikelyGoGo: “Jalen Brunson is a great basketball player, but in this entire playoff series he’s done nastier foul baiting than Embiid. Say what you want about Embiid, but Brunson is literally spamming a BANNED PLAY. IT’S THE TRAE YOUNG/STEPH CURRY SHIT THAT GOT BANNED IN 2022.”
Knicks are moving on the next round
The Knicks’ 118-115 road win in Game 6 over Philadelphia pushes New York to the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs where they will be squaring off against the Indiana Pacers, who had just sent the Milwaukee Bucks to Cancun, also on Thursday.
Game 1 of the series between the Pacers and the Knicks is scheduled to take place on Monday at Madison Square Garden.
The post Knicks’ Jalen Brunson sparks Trae Young-level hate over controversial move appeared first on ClutchPoints.
