NEW York Knicks star Jalen Brunson kept taking shots even after leading his team to a series-clinching 118-115 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in Thursday’s Game 6.

The 6-foot-2 guard couldn’t stop himself from reminding Inside the NBA analyst Kenny Smith of his beloved North Carolina’s painful 2016 March Madness loss during the postgame interview.

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New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson took a hilarious dig at Inside the NBA analyst Kenny Smith after winning Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ersCredit: NBA on TNT

Brunson reminded Smith of beating the sportscaster’s alma mater, North Carolina, with Villanova in the NCAA Tournament championship game in 2016Credit: NBA on TNT
Brunson, 27, scored 41 points while adding three rebounds and 12 assists to fire the Knicks to the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

And he did so at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the arena he used to play at for Villanova in college.

In the postgame, Charles Barkley asked the NBA star if it felt special to play in Philly

“Definitely,” Brunson responded.

“It’s definitely a special place to play.”

The Knicks star looked up and pointed out Villanova’s 1985, 2016, and 2018 championship banners hanging in the rafters at Wells Fargo.

“This place is like a home for me,” he said.

Kenny Smith then tried to ask a question about Julius Randle’s shoulder injury, which has ruled the Knicks big man out for the remainder of the season.

Brunson asked if it was Smith speaking and when he got the confirmation, the All-Star guard looked at Villanova’s banners again.

And he reminded the sportscaster about beating North Carolina, his alma mater, with the Wildcats in the 2016 NCAA Tournament

“Oh yeah, 2016 banner, Kenny,” the guard said, causing the Inside the NBA panel to laugh.

And TV viewers loved the exchange.

“This is great haha,” one posted on X.

“The man is walkin and talkin it,” another added.

[Philadelphia] is like a home for me

Jalen BrunsonNew York Knicks Guard

“Burn!” a third said.

Brunson triumphed with Villanova again two years later, defeating Michigan in the championship game.

He was then picked by the Dallas Mavericks with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

But the New Jersey native never truly unleashed his potential until he signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks in 2022.

This season, Brunson shares the court with two of his former Villanova teammates, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo.

He and Hart cooked up the game-winning play in Game 6 against the Sixers.

Brunson found the Knicks forward wide-open at the top of the arc with a little over 30 seconds left on the clock.

Hart then knocked down a 3 that handed New York a win and a spot in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

The Knicks will face the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs.

Brunson averages 35.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 9.0 assists this postseason.