New York Knicks Cause A Stir By Hiring Jalen Brunson’s Father Rick Brunson As Assistant Coach

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Credit: Adam Monacelli/Courier-Post / USA TODAY NETWORK

Changes were always coming for the New York Knicks after a disappointing 2021-22 season. There were high expectations coming into the season after a rare playoff berth in 2021, but the Knicks crashed and burned to finish 37-45 and missed the playoffs. Rumors have circulated all offseason regarding potential trades the team might make, with Donovan Mitchell the most prominent name linked, but reports now suggest a move is unlikely.

Another name that has been linked with the team is Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson. Brunson and the Mavericks couldn’t agree on an extension last season and after he balled out in the playoffs this year, he is expecting a significant amount of money this time around. Reports indicate that the Mavs will keep him, but the Knicks are interested and they made a move that might have something to do with it. As per the New York Post, the Knicks have hired Jalen’s dad Rick Brunson as an assistant coach for Tom Thibodeau.

The elder Brunson had been coaching at Camden High School and he has experience at the NBA level, having been an assistant to Thibodeau in the past with the Chicago Bulls as well as the Minnesota Timberwolves. So to clarify, the move wasn’t just made because he is Jalen’s father, but because it is someone Thibodeau is comfortable working with. The timing of this report coming out is interesting, however, as Jalen is just a few weeks away from hitting free agency.

We can’t be sure if this move will have any impact on Brunson’s decision in this offseason as he does seem happy in Dallas. He had his best season as a pro in 2021-22 and averaged 21.6 points per game in the playoffs as he helped the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals. He is one of the few great pieces around Luka Doncic at the moment and the Mavs need to keep him around if they are to be a threat in the Western Conference next season. As for the Knicks, their search to land a big free agent looks set to drag on for a while longer.

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Gautam Varier is a staff writer and columnist for Fadeaway World from Mumbai, India. He graduated from Symbiosis International University with a Master of Business specializing in Sports Management in 2020. This educational achievement enables Gautam to apply sophisticated analytical techniques to his incisive coverage of basketball, blending business acumen with sports knowledge.Before joining Fadeaway World in 2022, Gautam honed his journalistic skills at Sportskeeda and SportsKPI, where he covered a range of sports topics with an emphasis on basketball. His passion for the sport was ignited after witnessing the high-octane offense of the Steve Nash-led Phoenix Suns. Among the Suns, Shawn Marion stood out to Gautam as an all-time underrated NBA player. Marion’s versatility as a defender and his rebounding prowess, despite being just 6’7”, impressed Gautam immensely. He admired Marion’s finishing ability at the rim and his shooting, despite an unconventional jump shot, believing that Marion’s skill set would have been even more appreciated in today’s NBA.This transformative experience not only deepened his love for basketball but also shaped his approach to sports writing, enabling him to connect with readers through vivid storytelling and insightful analysis.
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