Jalen Brunson’s Dad Says he Only Acts Like a Dad To the Knicks Star ‘When He Embarrasses Himself’

Among the few father-son teams who are active in the league are Jalen Brunson and his father Rick. Prior to his son agreeing to a four-year, $104 million contract, the older Brunson was hired by the New York Knicks in 2022 and currently serves as assistant coach. Brunson and his teammate, Josh Hart , welcomed the Knicks assistant coach to their show, the “Roommates Show” on Thursday, where he talked about how he balances being a coach and a father.

“My first year [of coaching with the Knicks], I felt like the whole year I’m trying to prove myself, ‘I’m a coach, I’m not his dad’,” Rick said. “That’s how I took it. I would say, the only time I get into dad mode is when he embarrasses himself.



When he starts acting like this guy [Hart], yelling and screaming at referees.” “They both have that trait..

. Josh isn’t worse because referees expect that. They don’t expect that [from Jalen].

” “We have a rule, just like Josh. You can cuss me out on the court. But if you cuss me out off the court, I’m a father, I’mma get my belt out.

” Rick Brunson on balancing being a dad/coach: “Only time I get into dad mode is when he [Jalen] embarrasses himself...

.starts acting like this guy [Josh], yelling & screaming at referees.” pic.

twitter.com/fzpZYdtYDg — Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) November 14, 2024 The older Brunson doesn’t back down from any challenge. During the preseason games, they played against the Minnesota Timberwolves , who had their former player and his son’s best friend, Donte DiVincenzo .

The two got heated after the exhibition game, which led to them exchanging words . Jalen Brunson ’s dad admitted to cheating during their one-on-one games Before Rick got into coaching, he played professional basketball for multiple teams in the league, including the Knicks. As the son of a former NBA player, Jalen Brunson got a taste of how professionals play growing up.

In Thursday’s episode, the assistant coach talked about how he cheated playing one-on-one with his son. “You guys just play basketball,” Rick said. “For me, when I played, you always kept score, you wanted to win.

We would always play and he’d be winning...

He never knows the score, that used to kill me.” “He didn’t realize, he probably beat me more than what he thought because he didn’t know the score and I just cheated, ‘I’m up 5-4, it’s game’.” Rick Brunson on 1v1s with Jalen: “I knew when to stop playing him.

..it got real physical.

..I was tryna hurt em.

..I remember I told him mom ‘I’m gonna hurt this kid’.

...

he started getting good so I stopped.” pic.twitter.

com/X0qqNc9Hmo — Let’s Talk Knicks (LTK) (@LetsTalkKnicks_) November 14, 2024 Rick recognized early on that his son would excel as a basketball player. He said that a few games they had went physical when he’d take the game seriously and dominate against the younger Brunson. Their one-on-one games honed Jalen Brunson’s skills and made him an All-Star and a franchise player for the Knicks.

This season, the star guard is averaging 24.3 points, 2.9 rebounds and 6.

5 assists. This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission..