Social media users speculated that the New York Knicks have fired assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of Jalen Brunson.
Eric Daniel Brunson, aka Rick Brunson, is an American professional basketball coach and former player who played nine seasons in the NBA.
He started his coaching career as an assistant coach of the Denver Nuggets, focusing on player development.
From 2007 to 2009, he was with the University of Virginia as the Cavaliers’ director of basketball operations.
He was hired as the Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach in 2016, but he resigned following allegations made against him regarding misconduct toward two women.
On June 2, 2022, he was hired by the New York Knicks as an assistant coach.
Sources Reported That The Knicks Are Aiming To Fire Rick Brunson As Players Are Unhappy With His Role
The New York Knicks have recently parted ways with head coach Tom Thibodeau, and now sources report that the Knicks are aiming to fire Rick Brunson.
Sam Amico of Hoops Wire reported that several Knicks players have been unhappy with the role of Rick Brunson on the team.
However, the issues have not been revealed, but as per Amico, it was suggested that Rick has had “too big a say in things.”
There are no official announcements on whether or not Rick will remain with the Knicks amid the coaching change, but many within the organization assumed that he would stay with the Knicks.
Some social media users stated that if Rick is fired, they will stop watching the NBA. One user tweeted,
if this franchise fired our best coach in 25 years for “Rick Brunson” i’d quit watching this sport forever
@razor1751
Box Score PH took to their official Facebook handle and stated that the Knicks had fired assistant coach Rick. They wrote,
BREAKING: The New York Knicks have fired assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of Jalen Brunson, league sources.
Box Score PH
Former Knicks Guard Iman Shumpert Picked Rick Brunson For Next Knicks Head Coach
Former New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert recently appeared on ESPN’s “Hoop Stream” live from NBA Finals Game 1 with Vanessa Richardson and Brian Windhorst.
When the topics of the Knicks’ coaching search came up, and when Iman was asked who he would like to see take over, he shocked everyone by picking Rick Brunson. He said,
“I think it’s time, they’re going to put Rick Brunson in there. I think it’s time,” “Go ahead, let Rick do it. His son’s already playing point guard. Head of the snake, head of the snake. He’s an extension of the head of the snake.”
Iman Shumpert
Iman Shumpert: "I don't know…They're gonna put Rick Brunson in there. I think it's time 🤷🏾♂️"
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) June 6, 2025
Brian Windhorst: "😏 I have not heard that yet…Whoever it is has to be a guy who has the respect of the locker room immediately. Veteran team that's designed to win now…" pic.twitter.com/dPip9nDh14
The suggestion surprised both Richardson and Windhorst before they jumped in to say that Brunson had not been a name that he had heard talked about getting the job.
Windhorst said,
“I have not heard that yet, I mean that’s an interesting concept,” “But I will say, whoever it is has to be a guy who has the respect of the locker room immediately. Veteran team that’s designed to win now, so Rick is a guy who would have the respect of the team, but I think it’s going to be somebody who will walk in with that.”
Brian Windhorst
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Rick Brunson met his wife, Sandra, at Temple University, where he played for the Owls men’s basketball team, and she played volleyball. The couple has two children, Jalen and Erica Brunson.
- His son, Jalen, was named the 2014 and 2015 Illinois Boys’ Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and senior.
- Born in Syracuse, New York, Rick attended Salem High School, becoming one of two McDonald’s All-Americans from Massachusetts in 1991.
