Frances Tiafoe Justifies Wearing Jalen Brunson’s Jersey By Calling the Knicks Guard ‘Bigger than Jay-Z’

Advait Jajodia | 29/08/2024
Frances Tiafoe Justifies Wearing Jalen Brunson's Jersey By Calling the Knicks Guard 'Bigger than Jay-Z'

As one of the most entertaining players on the ATP Tour, Frances Tiafoe has attracted fans from across the sporting world. Notable athletes from outside tennis often travel to watch Tiafoe in action. The latest addition to this growing list is NBA star Mikal Bridges, but Big Foe welcomed the New York Knicks player in style by donning his teammate Jalen Brunson’s jersey

Ahead of the second-round contest at the US Open 2024, the World No.20 was seen warming up in Brunson’s Knicks kit, despite knowing that Bridges was going to make his way to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Talking about the mix-up, Tiafoe simply claimed that he isn’t a “morning person.” He said as per Tennis Channel,

“…So I put [the Knicks jersey] on and then when I took it off to go practice, I was, like, God, Jalen.” 

However, the Maryland native justified his actions by stating that Brunson was the ‘man’ of New York City. Further, he made bold comparisons between the Knicks point guard and renowned rapper Jay-Z. He lauded the NBA All-Star.

“But yeah, Brunson, he’s the man here. He’s damn near bigger than Jay-Z.” 

Tiafoe might not have worn Bridges’ jersey, but the latest Knicks acquisition didn’t seem to mind. This could be because Foe imitated his celebration and warmly embraced Bridges after the contest.

Tiafoe does Bridges’ celebration following a win over Alexander Shevchenko

In the NBA, when Bridges knocks down a three-pointer, he pulls off his iconic three-finger celebration. Tiafoe copied this, which fans in New York seemed to love during his match against Alexander Shevchenko.

The celebration clearly impressed Bridges, who wore a huge smile as Big Foe approached to embrace him in the stands.

In the match, Tiafoe prevailed after Shevchenko withdrew in the third set. However, he was already on course to win, having been up two sets and a game in the third.

After a difficult start to the 2024 season, Tiafoe is finally looking like his old regular self. Thanks to the finals run he made during the Cincinnati Masters 2024, the 26-year-old is playing with a lot more confidence. He will now hope to be at his best, during his third-round battle against compatriot Ben Shelton.

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
Frances Tiafoe Jalen Brunson Mikal Bridges New York Knicks US Open 2024

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Advait Jajodia

Advait Jajodia, an NBA and Tennis journalist for The SportsRush, has had a passion for both sports for over a decade. His admiration for Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Rafael Nadal pushed him to gain a profound understanding of the sports. With a background as a multi-sport athlete, Advait uses his experience on the hardwood and the court to offer insightful analysis. Over four years of dedicated sports journalism has equipped the 22-year-old with a unique perspective, reflected in his prolific portfolio of 4,700+ articles.

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