The NBA closed theirs Inquiry in the Curtsy'Decision to promote assistant coach Rick Brunsonsources tell Ian Begley of SNY.tv (Twitter link).
Brunson, the father of the All-NBA New York point guard Jalen Brunsonwas recently promoted to senior assistant under the head coach Tom Thibodeau. Rick Brunson earned his new role with the Knicks in the offseason, just as his son signed a four-year, $157 million contract extension to stay with the team long-term.
Jalen Brunson would have been eligible for a five-year maximum contract appreciated $269 million had he waited to hit free agency this summer. The elder Brunson, a former journeyman in the league, has been a coach since 2007 and served on staff in Denver, Chicago, Charlotte and Minnesota. He has been part of Thibodeau's team since 2022, when Jalen joined the team as a free agent.
There's more from New York:
- Knicks reserve center Jericho Sims writes that he is becoming an underrated defender, thanks in large part to his athletic ability and rim protector skills Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. According to Bondy, Sims limits opposing players to connecting within six feet of the rack on just 33% of their balls. All-Star starter according to contract Karl Anthony cities allowed players he competed against to connect from the same area on 73.2% of their takes. “He worked really hard on it.” Thibodeau said. “Very sporty. Great feet. And make the right decision at the right time. His athleticism is through the roof. He can react very quickly. And you need that. The rim protection is huge.”
- Knicks backup point guard Cameron Paynea former lottery winner, hopes not to have to return abroad so soon, writes James L. Edwards of The Athletic. “The greatest experience was that I was released and went abroad” Payne said. “I just thought, 'I'll never go back abroad again.' I appreciate the little things, like getting on the floor, the things that people don't do. I take this to the game every night. I don't want to go back abroad. This is my identity. I will give my best and do everything I can to help the team win.” He played for Chinese club Shanxi Loongs in 2019 but eventually returned to the States to play in the G League. Thanks to a successful time with the Suns, he returned to the NBA proper and has been an experienced reserve player ever since. Payne's solid ball control and efficient three-point shooting have made him an integral part of Thibodeau's rotation.
- Elsewhere in the same Edwards article: rookie Knicks guard Tyler Kolek He recently shared his experiences preparing for the draft this summer. “In the summer I work on what I think I need to get better at.” Kolek said. “I feel like I've gotten better every summer going back to college and even high school. Even this year I'm still learning. I’m just trying to gain the trust of my teammates and my coaches and get as much out of it as I can.” The 6’1″ guard was selected by Portland with the No. 34 pick out of Marquette, but New York traded to acquire his draft rights. Kolek has played sparingly this season. In 14 games, he averaged 3.1 points with a shooting percentage of .417/.429/1.00.
- Knicks reserve, big man Precious AchiuwaAccording to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (via Twitter). New York's next game is scheduled for Thursday against Charlotte. Achiuwa resigned a one-year, $6 million deal with the Knicks this offseason.
