Raised by a strong mother and shaped by an absent father, Rick Brunson’s story highlights the powerful role parents play, even through their absence.
Eric Daniel “Rick” Brunson, born June 14, 1972, in Syracuse, New York, has carved out an impressive career both on and off the basketball court.
As a player, Brunson’s resilience and determination led him through a nine-season NBA journey despite going undrafted in 1995.
His professional career began with the Adelaide 36ers in Australia, where he earned MVP honors before making his way to the NBA.
Throughout his playing days, Brunson became known for his tenacity, bouncing between teams including the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, and Los Angeles Clippers.
His perseverance kept him in the league despite playing exclusively on one-year contracts, counting the days until January 10 each season when those precarious deals would become guaranteed.
After retiring as a player, Brunson transitioned seamlessly into coaching.
He has served as an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, and currently the New York Knicks.
He also gained valuable experience at the collegiate level as the director of basketball operations at the University of Virginia and found success coaching at Camden High School in New Jersey.
Rick Brunson’s Parenting Reflects Lessons From His Parents
Rick Brunson’s upbringing in the projects of Syracuse, New York, significantly shaped the man, player, and coach he would become.
Raised primarily by his mother, Nancy Linton, Brunson shared a modest two-bedroom apartment with her and his four siblings.
The crowded conditions and economic challenges they faced created a foundation of resilience that would define his approach to life and basketball.
Nancy Linton emerges as the pivotal figure in Rick’s formative years. A strong, practical woman, she provided not just maternal support but critical life guidance.
When Rick, frustrated by the demanding coaching style of Temple University’s John Chaney, considered transferring to Boston College after his freshman year, Nancy delivered straightforward advice that would alter his trajectory:
“So what if Coach Chaney screams? If you can’t make it with him, you’re not going to make it in life.”
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This no-nonsense perspective encouraged Rick to persevere through challenges rather than avoid them—a philosophy he would later apply to his own parenting style.
Notably absent during much of Rick’s youth was his father, whose name remains undocumented in public records.
According to reports, his father did not attempt to be involved in Rick’s life until he achieved success as a McDonald’s All-American—a belated interest that likely influenced Rick’s determination to be consistently present in his own son’s life, even when that presence was demanding.
The contrast between his parents’ involvement becomes particularly significant when examining Rick’s approach to fatherhood.
Unlike his own father, Rick has been intensely—sometimes overwhelmingly—involved in his son Jalen’s development.
Where Rick experienced paternal absence, Jalen experienced almost constant paternal presence and guidance.
Rick’s coaching of Jalen reflected lessons learned from both parents: his mother’s emphasis on perseverance and his father’s absence, teaching him the importance of consistent involvement.
The training sessions he conducted with Jalen were notoriously rigorous—having him practice in weighted vests under the blazing sun, taping his thumb to improve technique, and delivering harsh criticism when necessary.
Sandra Brunson, Rick’s wife and Jalen’s mother, often served as the counterbalance to Rick’s intense coaching style, providing emotional support when his methods became too extreme.
The generational evolution is clear: where Rick had to navigate childhood with an absent father and learn resilience through his mother’s guidance, he created a different but equally challenging environment for Jalen—one with consistent paternal involvement but also relentless expectations.
This parenting approach has proven effective despite its intensity. Jalen Brunson has developed into a poised, mentally tough NBA player who exemplifies the values of hard work and perseverance that his father learned from his own challenging upbringing.
Jalen himself has acknowledged that while he sometimes “hated” his father’s methods and would “roll his eyes” and “give him attitude,” he “always wanted” the training and ultimately wrote a school essay identifying his father as his role model.
Rick Brunson’s journey from the Syracuse projects to professional success, and his transition from son to father demonstrates how parenting styles evolve in response to our own upbringing.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Rick Brunson was one of two McDonald’s All-Americans from Massachusetts in 1991 after attending Salem High School.
- In 2014, Rick Brunson faced legal challenges when he was arrested on charges related to an alleged incident with a masseuse at Life Time Athletic gym, though he was later acquitted.
- Rick briefly considered retirement after being cut by the Philadelphia 76ers before the 2006-07 season, which led to an emotional moment with his son Jalen, who cried harder than his father upon hearing the news.
