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Jalen Brunson Jokingly Slams Josh Hart’s “Terrible” Friendship Days After Viral NBA Cup Celebration

Somin Bhattacharjee
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May 21, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) and guard Josh Hart (3) react in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game one of the eastern conference finals for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Madison Square Garden.

In the immediate aftermath of the New York Knicks’ NBA Cup victory over the San Antonio Spurs, Josh Hart created a viral moment on stage with Jalen Brunson that raised several eyebrows. It was undoubtedly a hilarious exchange between the two friends, with Brunson now firing back.

Hart, standing on stage with cameras across the arena and millions watching worldwide, decided it would be a great idea to stick his thumb behind Brunson, leaving the Knicks guard visibly shell-shocked.

Even Hart seemed taken aback by how viral the moment became. He took to his X account with posts captioned, “Damn caught in 4K” and “It was AI,” followed by teary emojis. Of course, it wasn’t AI. Brunson, who was on the receiving end of Hart’s antics, has since reflected on their friendship.

Brunson, speaking on the floor of Madison Square Garden, was reflecting on his historic 47-point performance against the Miami Heat earlier in the day. The presenter then asked him about the 20 three-pointers the Knicks made in the win, probing who had arguably hit the biggest shot of the night.

Unfortunately for Brunson, the answer had to be Hart, who shot one from 40-feet. Brunson said, “Josh, I’mma say Josh,” which brought out huge cheers from the crowd.

Brunson himself was trying to hide his smile as he added, “Unfortunately, I’m gonna say Josh. He’s been a pretty terrible friend as of recently but I’m gonna say Josh.” 

The reporter, however, stole the show in this segment, as he concluded with “Thumbs up to that”, which surely gave Brunson some PTSD. After all, who would want this to be remembered?

That said, this exchange goes on to show how great the vibes are in the Knicks locker room. These players aren’t just teammates, but friends. Yes, Brunson called Hart a terrible friend, but of course, that was a joke. Perhaps, if they all celebrate a NBA championship together, Brunson will take his revenge in a similar fashion?

Thumbs up from the NBA community for that.

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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