TNT broadcaster Candace Parker doubles down on Jalen Brunson remarks after backlash from 'diehards'

INSIDE the NBA analyst Candace Parker has responded to the backlash caused by her remarks on New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson.

Last month, the two-time WNBA MVP suggested the 6-foot-2 point guard wasn't an A1-caliber NBA star – in part because of his size.

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Parker, 37, brought up Brunson's performance in the 2023 NBA Playoffs to justify her point.

The three-time WNBA champion said the Knicks struggled in the Eastern Conference semifinals matchup against the Miami Heat with the ex-Villanova standout as the No. 1 scoring option.

Despite Brunson, 27, averaging 31.0 points on 5.04% from the field, 6.3 assists, and 5.5 rebounds, New York fell 4-2 to Miami and crashed out of the postseason.

After facing criticism over her analysis, Parker defended her stance on social media.

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And she doubled down on her take in a Zoom call for TNT ahead of the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend as she discussed her "first taste of welcome to the NBA commentating with the diehards."

The Las Vegas Aces star pointed out that Brunson thrived going up against a smaller guard in Donovan Mitchell during the first-round series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But he wasn't as impactful when matchup up with bigger defenders against the Heat.

"Well, I feel like, first of all, I love Knicks fans … and I get it, "Parker said Tuesday.

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"What I was alluding to was the fact that in the first round of the playoffs, he was the best player on the court against Donovan Mitchell. He was the best player on the court."

"And the second round, especially on the defensive end, Miami picked on him a great deal. And Jimmy Butler was, in fact, the best player on the court.

"And my thing was basically it was no slight on Jalen Brunson. I think he makes everybody better around him. I think he makes winning plays."

Parker said "it is my job to give my opinion" – and predicted the Knicks should be much more prepared for a deep playoff run this year.

That's because they have improved their defense and added more shooting by trading for OG Anunoby, Alec Burks, and Bojan Bogdanovic during the season.

"I think what the Knicks have done in this trade, and in the season, that has been surrounding him with defense, which was something that they struggled with last year, and getting stops against Miami in the playoffs," the Inside the NBA analyst said.

"So that was my hot take."

Brunson, who earned his first All-Star this season, is averaging 27.8 points, 5.6 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.

The Knicks will head for the All-Star break as one of the Top 5 teams in the East.