Jalen Brunson jokes about Josh Hart’s ESPY snub as Knicks win Best Team award

Jalen Brunson turned a national stage into a locker-room moment on 18 June 2026, using the Knicks’ Best Team ESPY to needle Josh Hart over his uninvited status.

What happened at the ESPYs?

The New York Knicks accepted the Best Team award at the 2026 ESPYs in Las Vegas, capping a decade-long rebuild that delivered the franchise’s first Larry O’Brien Trophy. Minutes after the trophy was handed over, Karl-Anthony Towns and Brunson stepped to the mic and fired a playful shot at ESPN. Towns opened with a nod to the absent Hart. “You may see someone is missing up here,” Towns said. Brunson jumped in: “We want to say thank you to the ESPYs for pulling Josh Hart’s invite.” The room erupted as the Knicks celebrated their first championship in 49 years.

Why it matters for Jalen Brunson

Brunson, 26, played every regular-season game and all 25 playoff contests en route to the title, averaging 26.1 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 49.5% from the field. His steady two-way play earned him All-NBA Second Team honors and locked him into a max extension with New York this past offseason. The ESPY moment added a viral highlight to a season already stuffed with hardware: All-Star berth, All-NBA recognition, and now the league’s top team award.

How the Knicks built a champion

The Knicks’ rebuild began in 2020 when Leon Rose and William Wesley took over basketball operations. Over the next four years they swung blockbuster trades for Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, and Josh Hart, and signed Brunson to a four-year, $104 million deal in 2022. The core peaked in June 2026, when New York outlasted Boston in seven games in the Eastern Conference Finals before sweeping Dallas in the NBA Finals. Brunson’s clutch shooting and leadership defined the postseason, including a 30-point, 10-assist Game 6 in Dallas that clinched the title.

What comes next for Brunson and the Knicks

With the championship hangover still fresh, the Knicks are already eyeing a repeat. No team has defended a title since the 2017 Warriors, and New York’s front office has reloaded the roster with veteran depth this summer. Brunson, now 26, is under contract through 2029 and has emerged as the face of the franchise. “The love of New York made this whole journey worth it,” Towns told the crowd. Brunson added a grin: “Knicks in five-again.”