New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson delivered one of the funniest soundbites of the season after Tuesday night's win, a victory that sent the Knicks to the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas, when he joked that he’d pardon the person who robbed teammate Josh Hart if he were mayor.
Brunson, who dropped 35 points in the Knicks' win over the Toronto Raptors, joined the NBA on Prime postgame crew when Taylor Rooks mentioned he'd received write-in votes for New York City mayor. She also reminded him that Hart previously said Brunson would make a "terrible mayor." But Brunson didn’t miss a beat and had a response ready for his teammate.
"If I was mayor, whoever stole Josh's watches in New York City… I would make sure they walk free," he said with a smirk, a line that immediately cracked up the studio and lit up social media.
The joke references Hart's offseason ordeal in which $185,000 worth of watches and jewelry were reportedly stolen from his New York City hotel room. The theft resurfaced recently, especially as Hart has been on a tear since rejoining the Knicks' starting lineup in late November. New York has now won eight of its last nine games, with Hart posting 21 points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals in Tuesday's win.
Brunson and Hart, longtime friends and Villanova teammates, often poke fun at one another publicly, but the chemistry clearly fuels the Knicks as much as it entertains fans. The two even poke fun at each other during episodes of The Roommates Show, which they co-host.
The Knicks face their next NBA Cup test this weekend in Las Vegas.