The stage is set for an exciting mid-season matchup for Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks. They are set to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Dec. 16Â for the Emirates NBA Cup Finals. While this is a matchup that carries playoff energy, Brunson could not help but break the tension at the expense of his father, Rick Brunson.
Not only are the Brunsons among the father-son duos to have played in the league, but they also have the honor of having played for the same franchise — the Knicks. The elder Brunson’s stint in New York was brief, lasting from 1999 to 2001.
Jalen Brunson Cracks a Joke at Rick Brunson’s Expense
While his time there was short-lived, Rick was still a part of franchise history as a member of the ’99 NBA Finals team that faced the Spurs. Now, history is repeating itself in a way, with the younger Brunson suiting up in a do-or-die matchup against the Spurs.
This historical matchup provided an opportunity for some to reminisce about the ’99 Finals. Jalen was at the center of this nostalgic mood, with the media asking him what he remembers about it. He was asked if he could still remember who the starting five for the Knicks was, despite being only two years old at the time.
Without missing a beat, he replied, “not Rick Brunson.” This was met with laughter, and even he couldn’t help but smile at his own hilarious response.
Afterward, he tried to name the actual starters from memory. He initially went 0-for-2 after naming Patrick Ewing and Chris Dudley. He then redeemed himself by succesfully naming Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell, Marcus Camby, and Larry Johnson. He hit a snag at remembering who the point guard was, but with some hints, he was able to name Charlie Ward.
Q: “This is the biggest Knicks-Spurs game since the 99 Finals. You were there, like 3 years old”
Jalen Brunson: “I was”
Q: “Can you name the 99 Knicks starting lineup?”
Jalen: “Not Rick Brunson” pic.twitter.com/y92gDOpKnp
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) December 15, 2025
Rick was not a significant part of the Knicks’ rotation during the 1999 campaign. He suited up in only 17 games during the regular season, averaging only 5.6 minutes per game. During the postseason, he played in nine games. However, only one of those was in the Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Specifically, he played in Game 3, which was the only game the Knicks won. He subbed in for Chris Dudley in the final ten seconds of the first half and never saw the floor again after.
