While the Villanova quartet of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges, and Donte DiVincenzo never got their chance at an NBA reunion with the New York Knicks on the court, the former Wildcats have reunited again.
All four players participated in a hilarious and memorable commercial representing Villanova as part of AT&T’s Guaranteed Madness campaign.
Brunson and Hart spoke with HoopsHype to discuss how the commercial happened, stories behind the scenes at Villanova, why Hart’s having a career season, how Brunson’s life has changed since becoming the captain of the Knicks, the similarities and differences between Tom Thibodeau and Jay Wright, and what could be next for them after retirement down the line.
AT&T
Josh Hart: We’re rekindling and reconnecting existing friendships. Obviously, Donte (DiVincenzo) got traded to a different team.
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Jalen Brunson: I’ve kept tabs on them. It’s been growth every year. To see these guys where they are now versus where they were at the beginning of the year has been fun to watch. I’m excited for the development, to continue to work on their games, and to see where their careers end up. I’m always tapped in with them.
Hart: Same here. Obviously, it’s been a little bit of an up-and-down year, but I think Dixon can space the floor. Wooga’s athletic ability is going to put him in a good position.
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Brunson: We won a lot of games and won a lot of titles. We had a lot of individual awards between us. The best part about my time at Villanova is that I knew when I was going there that it wasn’t just going to be for the time that I was there. I knew I was going to be connected with this group and people for the rest of my life. Villanova changed my life in that way. I knew I wasn’t just picking the school to play basketball. I was picking a family to be a part of forever. I know it may sound a little corny or tacky, but it’s something that clearly is still in effect. I still have my guys here, and we’re able to connect with AT&T together.
Hart: Same with me. We had a lot of wins and a couple of national championships, but the relationships that we built are for a lifetime. We stay connected with each other throughout the season and the year. (Phil) Booth, Mikal (Bridges), Donte (DiVincenzo), and all the guys. It’s that family relationship that we have.
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Hart: Jalen is the exact same. He’s still childish and immature. Everyone sees the captain and mature guy behind the cameras, but he’s a clown in real life.
Brunson: If you made some sense, everyone sees the mature guy in front of the cameras. Behind the cameras, I’m a clown. Someone paid attention in school, and someone didn’t.
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Hart: I think it was one of those things where we got approached by Playmaker about it and we thought it could be kind of cool. Then, we did a speaking engagement the past summer. We had fun with it. It was a fun and good conversation. We were like a podcast would solidify that. This is going to be fun. It’s a way for us to get away from basketball, have fun, and also control our own narrative.
AT&T
Brunson: Me working with AT&T last year and being able to work with them during the tournament. I thought it went pretty well. I think from the company’s standpoint, it went pretty well, too. They are continuing this Villanova theme. It worked out in both of our favor. Us going back to them and them thinking we did a good job the first time around has been great to build off of it.
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Hart: I think this is the first year for me that I feel like I solidified myself in being a good player in the league. I wasn’t worried about trying to prove myself to anybody. We’ve got JB (Brunson), KAT (Karl-Anthony Towns), Mikal (Bridges), and OG (Anunoby). How can I help these guys maximize their opportunities, kind of be a servant for them, and also be available for Thibs (Tom Thibodeau)? I think I took that mentality and went with that. It opened doors for me that I didn’t think were possible or were in my vision at the time. My biggest thing is I want to make sure these guys are good, and I want to make sure they get the recognition, contracts, and accolades that come with being in their position.
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Brunson: For the most part, it’s been pretty amazing. It’s something that I can say changed my life for the better. I never thought things would be the way that they are. But when you work hard for something and focus on the team goals, a lot of individual success and accolades can happen. I think I’ve tried to do everything the right way and focus on how I can help my team be the best we can be. Individually, it’s worked out for me. I’m really thankful for the opportunity that came about. It’s something that if I went back in time, I’d do over and over again. It’s something that I’d never take for granted because it’s such a blessed opportunity for an organization like this in a city like this, and to be with my friends and to be with family. It’s been remarkable, to say the least.
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Brunson: I’d say I’ve always worked my butt off to be the best player I can be, so the play part, I’m not necessarily surprised by that. I always knew I could achieve whatever I worked for as long as I kept working and had that mindset to never be satisfied with anything, but the things that come with it, like being named the captain, signing an extension, thankfully, being here with my dad (assistant coach Rick Brunson), Thibs (coach Tom Thibodeau), Leon (Rose), and all the guys I’ve known for such a long time like Josh (Hart), Mikal (Bridges), and formerly Donte (DiVincenzo), who I grew up with. There are so many factors where you look at it, and you’re thinking this is something you’d never thought of when making the jump to a new team. That’s what I meant when I said you don’t know what would happen. It’s been remarkable and something I wouldn’t change for anything.
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Brunson: They’re both maniacs when it comes to their profession. They want the best out of you. They want to push you to exhaustion and make you the best player you can be. They’re both very similar when it comes to that, but they both go about it differently. Thibs, obviously, is a guy who’s known for having that love for the game by staying in the gym and the way he prepares himself and the team for games, which is different from Coach Wright. With Coach Wright, I feel like he pushed us differently. It’s kind of hard to explain, but being in the middle of it and seeing both sides of it. It’s two totally different people with the same mindset and agenda.
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Brunson: Me and Josh have definitely talked about the NIL stuff. Down the line, as of right now, I wouldn’t want to do it for any other school other than Villanova. That’s a conversation to see where I’m at down the line. I don’t know. We’ll see. I have a lot of pride for my school and a lot of pride for the people there. That’s a conversation to ask me when I’m close to done with this (playing in the NBA).
Hart: I think the same for me. Steph has had a heck of a career, and I feel like he has a few years left where he can really start thinking about that. JB (Brunson) is in his prime, and I just turned 30, so I’m on the back end. It’s something we’ll probably think about soon, but let’s give ourselves four or five years before we start really thinking about it.
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