Knicks Hire Jalen Brunson's Father Rick Brunson As Assistant Coach

The New York Knicks intend to go all-out to try to woo free agent point guard Jalen Brunson this summer. Now Ian Begley of SNY reports that they've hired his father Rick Brunson as an assistant coach. 

Report: Knicks are finalizing a contract to hire Rick Brunson, father of Jalen Brunson, as an assistant coach, via @IanBegley pic.twitter.com/E4T7lG7gRO

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 2, 2022

To be sure, there are a lot of deep connections between the 49-year-old Brunson and the Knicks: He played 2 1/2 seasons in New York during his 9-year career in the NBA; he's been an assistant under Knicks' current head coach Tom Thibodeau in previous stops in Chicago and Minnesota; and he was one of Knicks president Leon Rose's first clients when Rose was an agent. 

But it's hard not to make a connection to the fact that the Knicks are itching to sign Jalen Brunson as a free agent. If having his father on the coaching staff can help land the son, then it's worth a shot. 

The Dallas Mavericks, however, have made it clear that they intend to re-sign the younger Brunson. He'll be looking for something in the range of $80M over four years. 

After bringing in 'pops' though, the Knicks are hoping it'll be "like father, like son."

Photo Credit: JOE LAMBERTI/COURIER POST-USA TODAY NETWORK NJ, The Courier-Post via Imagn Content Services, LLC