Jalen Brunson and Rick Brunson (Image Credit: X/@sixersgeo)
Rick Brunson vs. The NBA is turning out to be quite a headache for the New York Knicks. Enraged by the alleged investigation, the Knicks have accused the league of harassment. As per their statement, the promotion of Brunson has nothing fishy going on, and poking into the matter only demeans Brunson’s credibility.
“Brunson took Johnnie Bryant’s place and assumed the same salary as Bryant… It’s offensive that anyone would claim Rick didn’t deserve the promotion, Rick has done a tremendous job and will continue to do so. We see this as more harassment of the Knicks due to our opposition to certain NBA matters,” mentioned MSG Sports in an official statement.
The Knicks recently promoted Rick to HC Tom Thibodeau’s right-hand at the Knicks. As per the rumors, Rick’s son, Jalen Brunson, recently extended his contract with the Knicks in the offseason. Incidentally, because Jalen signed it last summer rather than the next one. However, this deal saved the Knicks a significant amount of money.
Thus, there are rumors circulating that the Knicks have promoted Rick Brunson immediately to make up for the money Jalen missed out on. This is why the NBA is looking into the matter to verify whether the allegations hold any weight. Meanwhile, as the controversy continues, this is not the first time the Knicks have gotten into trouble regarding the Brunsons.
The New York Knicks And Rick Brunson: A Curious Case Unfolding
The Knicks have already faced backlash from the NBA for allegedly signing Jalen Brunson in 2022. Following which, the Knicks lost the opportunity of getting a 2025 second-round pick. Now, with things spilling over to Rick Brunson’s hiring, the chaos has further escalated. For the records, Rick Brunson is not at all an inexperienced coach.
In fact, he has previously served as the assistant coach of teams like the Timberwolves, Hornets, Bulls, and the Nuggets. Moreover, Thibodeau was aware of Brunson’s previous antics and, thus, played a significant role in hiring him for the Knicks. Now, with the Knicks lashing out significantly at the NBA, it remains to be seen how well things work out between the two parties in the future.
