Like everyone in New York City, I’ve been talking a lot about the fact that the New York Knicks recently won the 2026 NBA Championship. New York City has been celebrating for weeks. 

I’ve been watching a lot of Knicks-related videos and interviews, and I was particularly struck by one moment in an interview that took place two days after the winning game.

On the Today show, host Jenna Bush Hager was interviewing Knicks players Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges. These three played together in college, at Villanova, so they’ve known each other a long time—and Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart are especially close friends. Jalen Brunson is the team captain and the MVP.

But before I talk about the part of the conversation that really struck me, let me set the context. This episode took place during the now-famous Game 4. I was at that game! I’m sure that it will be a major highlight of my whole life. This was a bonkers game. Last week, I talked about that game in my “Little Happier” episode, but there’s more to say.

To remind you of the context: at one point, the Knicks were behind by 29 points, but they managed to claw their way back to being a single point behind the San Antonio Spurs in the final two minutes of the game.

As time counted down, Josh Hart had the chance to make an easy layup—one that would have put the Knicks in the lead—and he missed it. What a lost opportunity! Play continued, with the two teams each briefly taking the lead.

Then, with even fewer seconds remaining, Jalen Brunson launched a three-pointer that missed, but somehow OG Anunoby stealed toward the basket and tipped in the ball to put the Knicks in the lead with 1.2 seconds on the clock. Time ran out, and the Knicks won. This was an absolutely spectacular moment. It was a huge triumphant moment for OG Anunoby, of course, and this game marked the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The Knicks then went on to win the championship.

So two days later, Jenna Bush Hager is interviewing Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges. At this time, a rumor was going around that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey might get married at Madison Square Garden, so at one point, JBH asks the three guys if they think Madison Square Garden would be a good venue for the wedding.

And Jalen Brunson answers her, saying, “A lot of great things happen there…when we’re down one, and you miss wide-open layups.” So of course he is talking about this big miss by Josh Hart.

But importantly, as he says it, he’s smiling. He has thrown his arm around Josh Hart’s shoulders, and he’s clearly speaking with affection—very appropriately for Josh Hart, he’s “joshing” him, as my father would say. He’s teasing in a very gentle way.

Then Josh Hart, who’s known to be a funny, prankish kind of guy, responds. He says, “For me, I wanted to set up an epic last possession. We wouldn’t have that OG tip-in without that missed layup. I was willing to sacrifice that layup so OG could get the tip-in. I was trying to be a good teammate.” Everybody laughs.

What I admire about this exchange was that it was such a powerful example of using humor to take the pain out of a hard situation. In the moment when he missed that layup, I’m sure Josh Hart felt terrible. He probably feels terrible every time he thinks of it.

By teasing him about the missed shot, in a warm, light-hearted way, Jalen Brunson took the sting out of that blunder. By responding with his own funny answer, Josh Hart showed that he could joke about it, he could put his own humorous spin on it.

I was particularly struck by this moment because in my own life, I have a tendency to avoid painful subjects. I wouldn’t have mentioned that missed layup to Josh Hart, because I wouldn’t want to make him feel bad. But then it starts to feel like something off limits, something unspeakable.

I think using humor was a much better approach. I’m going to try to use this lesson in my own life.

If you want to watch this exchange for yourself, I’ve linked it here —around minute 6:40.

Sometimes, we’re better off treating a painful subject with lighthearted humor rather than sympathetic silence.