Jalen Brunson Breaks Silence on Detroit’s Disrespect as Knicks Locker Room Feelings Emerge After Pistons Win

Packed arenas, a buzz around the city, everyone repping the same colors: Fans’ energy makes the playoffs ten times more exciting than they already are. But sometimes, their passion tends to go a little overboard. Something similar happened during last night’s Pistons vs Knicks clash. As the New York team entered Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit crowd welcomed Jalen Brunson with deafening “F— You” chants.

After the game, Brunson admitted that Detroit’s disrespect was a new experience for him. When asked if he had ever played in such a hostile environment, he said, “In the NBA, no.” Well, JB was not his team’s primary superstar during his early years with the Mavs, so the opposing fans were usually not focused on him. Obviously, because they had Luka Doncic to worry about. But now that Brunson has become the Knicks’ leader, he is going to be the primary target in all opposing arenas.

In a way, Brunson understood the sentiment behind Pistons fans’ behavior, “I give them a lot of credit. They made the environment special for their home team and we just found a way to win the game, but that was definitely a lot. So yeah, a lot of credit to that fanbase.” It’s every fanbase’s job to make the game harder for the visiting team, and Pistons supporters did exactly that. However, yelling out slurs might not have been the best way to go because it only motivated JB to go harder.

“I mean, do I think its cheers? No. But it’s just another way to get me focused and stay composed and stay poised. Just know that obstacle and knowing that my teammates have my back, it’s nothing.” He added. Unbothered by the crowd, Brunson stayed focused on his job and dropped 30 points and nine assists to lead the Knicks to victory. Maybe Pistons fans should have remained silent and not added fuel to his fire. Even his teammates were not too worried about playing in enemy territory.

Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns joke about Detroit disrespect as Josh Hart claims fans don’t dictate Knicks’ strategy

Before diving into his emotions about the environment in Detroit, Brunson was asked by insider Stef Bondy how it felt hearing 20,000 fans yelling profanities at him. Bondy did not specifically say the phrase that was used, which gave JB an opportunity to have some fun. “Chanting what?” He asked the insider. Bondy replied, “I think you heard it.” Even Towns joined in, saying “I didn’t hear it” as Brunson urged the reporter to “say it.”

Of course, Bondy remained professional and reminded both Knicks stars that it’s a PG show. But KAT made him more uncomfortable by asking, “This is a show? Wow. That’s crazy. You’re trying to say there is a script? It’s crazy.” Obviously, the two stars were just joking around, trying to have some fun amid the hectic playoff schedule. And the interaction did leave the entire room laughing out loud. Moreover, it proved that the Knicks are not worried about Pistons fans.

Even Josh Hart resonated a similar sentiment as he revealed the locker room’s feelings. When asked if Detroit’s reception of Brunson surprised him, he said, “Nah, I don’t think so. Obviously, you heard it, I mean Houston did it to Draymond and Boston did it to Draymond. So, you know, we don’t care. We’re gonna go out there and play our game. Nothing the fans do really dictate how we go about anything.” He used Draymond as an example because the Warriors star received the same “F— You” chants in Houston during Game 2.

Josh Hart was asked if he was surprised Pistons fans had vulgar chants for Jalen Brunson

“Nah, I don’t think so. Houston did it to Draymond, Boston did it to Draymond. We don’t care. Nothing the fans do really dictate how we go about anything” pic.twitter.com/8qXmwth50b

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 25, 2025

And that was not the first time. Three years ago, during the Finals against Celtics, Green received the same treatment in Boston. He even addressed it during Wednesday’s presser, reacting to Rockets fans’ chants, “It’s not original. Been there before, won a championship while it was happening. Can’t steal other people’s s—. That belongs to Boston, so I kinda just kept it pushing.”

Like it or not, getting heckled by fans is part of the game and players have no option but to play through it. Even the MSG crowd does the same thing when teams visit their arena. So, Josh Hart and the Knicks are just focused on the task at hand and not the outside noise.

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