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Knicks Dynamic Duo on Opposite Sides Ahead of Historic Matchup

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Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are fans of rival football teams.

Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson have been teammates for a major part of their pro careers. The duo played together on the Villanova Wildcats from 2015-2017, winning the 2016 NCAA Men’s Championship together. Then, after being drafted in 2017 and 2018 respectively, the two went their separate ways. However, midway through the 2022-23 NBA Season, Brunson’s breakout year, the New York Knicks participated in a four-team trade to acquire Hart reuniting the duo.

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The bond between the two players has grown leaps and bounds since Hart’s arrival. Their hugely popular podcast, Roommates Show, has played host to many Knicks players since its inception and is a place for fans to get to know more about their idols in New York. But now, this weekend, the two are not friends. They are now ”rivals” due to the NFC Championship game.

Knicks Dynamic Duo on Opposite Sides Ahead of Historic Matchup

Josh Hart’s Early Days

Josh Hart spent his formative years in Maryland but transferred to Sidwell Friends School in Washington D.C. as a junior. There, he was almost kicked out due to poor grades until several players and families protested the move. His love for the Washington Commanders (formerly Redskins) is well documented, and he can be seen celebrating on Twitter after every big win. He reposted a tweet from the Commanders’ official account and has tweeted “In JD5 We Trust” after every win, referencing the Commanders’ rookie QB Jayden Daniels.

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Jalen Brunson’s Early Days

Growing up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Brunson’s fandom for the Philadelphia Eagles has been written in far longer than his NBA career. Considered a suburb of Philadelphia, practically most people who grow up in Cherry Hill go on to be Eagles fans. He has seen the Eagles go through their various ups and downs and is still a massive team supporter. Additionally, alongside Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns is also a massive Eagles fan. Towns has worn their jerseys on various occasions throughout this season, with Brunson giving this the thumbs-up.

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NFC Championship Game

The NFC Championship game pits these best friends against each other, with Josh Hart’s Commanders heading to the Lincoln Financial Field to take on Jalen Brunson’s Philadelphia Eagles. The winner of this game heads to the Super Bowl in New Orleans and gives themselves a shot at history. A win for the Eagles will cement their status as one of the great teams of the 2020s. Winning this game allows the Eagles to redeem themselves after a devastating loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2023.

However, a win for Washington will have a massive impact on the sport. No rookie QB has ever won, or for that matter started, in the Super Bowl. A win on Sunday will add to the growing legend of Jayden Daniels, and help him cement this as the greatest season ever by a rookie. It will be another point in his favor against the detractors who said his play style and/or frame would never let him succeed in the NFL.

The Last Word

The game itself is sure to be must-see TV. However, for the Knicks fans who tune in, it will have an extra layer of mystique. Brunson and Hart are sure to trade verbal blows on their weekly podcast, and their social media accounts will be in full swing on Sunday as they watch their respective teams battle to reach the single-biggest game in American sports. Can Philly ride to the Super Bowl on the back of another awesome game by Saquon Barkley? Or will Jayden Daniels pull off a historic upset and cap his Rookie Year with a shot at rewriting the history books?

The post Knicks Dynamic Duo on Opposite Sides Ahead of Historic Matchup appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.