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[Saba Sports News] It took just one game for Jalen Brunson to get under an opponent’s skin in the playoffs.
Following team practice on Sunday, Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson spoke with reporters and threw a little shade in Brunson’s direction.
When asked about the difficulty of guarding the New York Knicks star, Thompson didn’t hold back, suggesting Brunson’s foul-drawing tactics are more theatrical than tactical.
“Just don’t foul him,” Thompson said, via Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “He’s good at drawing fouls. Well, he’s good at selling—*selling* fouls. So you just have to be smarter.”
Thompson, known as the Pistons’ premier on-ball defender, was tasked with guarding Brunson in Saturday’s Game 1. Despite the assignment, the Knicks came away with a 123-112 win, with Brunson leading the way with 34 points, eight assists, and an 8-of-10 mark from the free throw line.
Brunson, a two-time All-Star, has developed a reputation for getting favorable calls. He averaged a career-high 6.9 free throw attempts per game during the regular season—fifth-most in the league—up from 6.5 attempts last year, which ranked 12th.
But not everyone is convinced he earns those trips to the line fairly. Opposing fans—and occasionally players—have accused Brunson of exaggerating contact to bait whistles. Thompson now appears to be the latest to join that chorus of critics.