Rick Brunson

Rick Brunson
Brunson watching the 2014 IHSA tournament at the Peoria Civic Center
New York Knicks
PositionAssistant Coach
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1972-06-14) June 14, 1972 (age 52)
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High schoolSalem (Salem, Massachusetts)
CollegeTemple (1991–1995)
NBA draft1995: undrafted
Playing career1995–2006
PositionPoint guard
Number9, 11, 40, 5
Career history
As player:
1995–1996Adelaide 36ers
1996–1997Quad City Thunder
1997Connecticut Pride
1997–1998Portland Trail Blazers
1998Ginebra San Miguel
1998–1999Connecticut Pride
1999–2000New York Knicks
2000Boston Celtics
2000–2001New York Knicks
2001–2002Portland Trail Blazers
2002–2003Chicago Bulls
2003Toronto Raptors
2003–2004Chicago Bulls
2004Progresso Castelmaggiore
2004–2005Los Angeles Clippers
2005–2006Seattle SuperSonics
2006Houston Rockets
As coach:
2007Denver Nuggets (assistant)
2009–2010Hartford (assistant)
2010–2012Chicago Bulls (assistant)
2012–2013Charlotte Bobcats (assistant)
2016–2018Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant)
2019–2022Camden High School (New Jersey)
2022–presentNew York Knicks (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points1,090 (3.2 ppg)
Rebounds447 (1.3 rpg)
Assists876 (2.6 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference

Eric Daniel Brunson[1] (born June 14, 1972) is an American basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and a former professional player. He played nine seasons in the NBA and has also worked as an assistant coach for several teams. Brunson played college basketball for the Temple Owls.

Professional playing career

Born in Syracuse, New York, he attended Salem High School, becoming one of two McDonald's All-Americans from Massachusetts in 1991.[2] Brunson graduated from Temple University. Not drafted by any NBA team in 1995, he played for the Adelaide 36ers[3] in Australia in 1995–96 for whom he was their season MVP,[4] and in the CBA next season. He was signed as a free agent by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1997–98, playing again in the CBA at the start of the 1998–99 season. Brunson then signed with the New York Knicks, and was a member of the 1999 Eastern Conference championship team. In 2000–01, he started off with the Boston Celtics, but finished the season with the Knicks again. He rejoined the Trail Blazers in 2001–02. He then signed with the Chicago Bulls the next season, splitting between the Bulls and the Toronto Raptors in 2003–04. He joined the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2004–05 season, in which he had his best season as a pro, averaging a career-high 5.5 points per game. This helped him land a contract the following year with the Seattle SuperSonics, but he only appeared in four games that season due to injury. On February 28, 2006, the Sonics waived Brunson. He was subsequently signed by the Houston Rockets, with whom he finished his ninth and final season as a professional basketball player.

Coaching career

From January to April 2007, Brunson worked as an assistant coach with 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. In May 2009, Brunson was hired as assistant coach for the Hartford Hawks men's basketball team.[5] On September 8, 2010, Brunson was hired as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls.[6]

During the 2012–13 season, Brunson served as an assistant coach to Mike Dunlap on the Charlotte Bobcats' staff.[7]

On September 25, 2016, Brunson was hired by the Minnesota Timberwolves as an assistant coach.[8] In May 2018, Brunson resigned amidst allegations made against him regarding misconduct toward two women, while strongly denying the accusations.[9]

Brunson coached at Camden High School in Camden, New Jersey.[10] He was Dajuan Wagner Jr.'s head coach. Brunson resigned prior to the 2020–21 season while Camden High was ranked the #7 team in the country,[11] but changed his mind a couple days later and remained the coach until 2022.[12]

On June 2, 2022, Brunson was hired by the New York Knicks as an assistant coach.[13]

Personal life

Brunson embraces son Jalen as his wife Sandra looks on after winning the 2015 IHSA Class 4A championship.

Brunson met his wife, Sandra, at Temple University, where he played for the Owls men's basketball team and she played volleyball.[14] Rick went on to spend nine seasons in the NBA.[15] The couple has two children: Jalen (born 1996) and Erica (born c. 2000/01).[14][15] The family settled in Cherry Hill, New Jersey for much of his NBA career,[14] but moved seven times before settling in Lincolnshire, Illinois, in 2010 where Jalen played his high school career for Adlai E. Stevenson High School before joining Villanova.[14] Jalen was named the 2014 and 2015 Illinois Boys' Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and senior,[16][17] was named to the 2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game roster,[18] was named Illinois Mr. Basketball,[19] and led his team to the 2015 Illinois High School Association Class 4A championship.[20][21] Jalen is currently a player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

References

  1. ^ "BULLS: Rick Brunson Player Profile". NBA.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2002. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  2. ^ Bonato, Bryan (May 11, 2014). "Chris Herren, Jalen Brunson's dad reunite at Stevenson High presentation". Lake County News-Sun. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  3. ^ Sixers No. 1 for Tyndale
  4. ^ Adelaide 36ers: Year-by-Year History
  5. ^ ESPN – Andy Katz Blog: 10 programs primed to rise this season
  6. ^ "Bulls name assistant coaches". NBA.com. September 8, 2010.
  7. ^ "Charlotte Bobcats Name Assistant Coaches". Charlotte Hornets. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "Timberwolves Announce Coaching Staff Additions". NBA.com. September 25, 2016.
  9. ^ Krawczynski, Jon (May 8, 2018). "Assistant coach Rick Brunson resigns from Wolves amid allegations of improper conduct toward women (UPDATES)". The Athletic. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  10. ^ Youngmisuk, Ohm (May 15, 2020). "Too young to know the GOAT: How today's NBA players learned to love Jordan". Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "Rick Brunson resigns as Camden basketball coach". November 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Rick Brunson changes course, returns as Camden basketball coach". November 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Begley, Ian. "Knicks finalizing Rick Brunson hire as assistant coach". SNY.Com. SportsNet New York. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d Breen, Matt (June 21, 2014). "Temple, Villanova on Jalen Brunson's list". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  15. ^ a b "Jalen Brunson". USA Basketball. June 15, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  16. ^ "Stevenson High School Standout Named Gatorade Illinois Boys' Basketball Player of the Year" (PDF). Gatorade. March 21, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  17. ^ Narang, Bob (March 20, 2015). "Boys' basketball: After season, Morgan Park's LoVett to tackle recruitment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
  18. ^ Borzello, Jeff (January 28, 2015). "East, West rosters unveiled". ESPN. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  19. ^ Mayor, Rich (March 24, 2015). "Boys' basketball: Stevenson's Jalen Brunson wins Mr. Basketball of Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  20. ^ Helfgot, Mike (March 21, 2015). "Boys' basketball: Jalen Brunson, Stevenson win first state title". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  21. ^ Reynolds, Dave (March 22, 2015). "Stevenson all-stater Jalen Brunson does talking on court". The Journal Star. Retrieved March 23, 2015.