Just days after the New York Knicks ended one of their most promising playoff runs in decades, the buzz around Madison Square Garden has shifted from basketball success to behind-the-scenes tension.
With head coach Tom Thibodeau out and the search for his successor underway, a surprising source of controversy has emerged — and it’s hitting close to home for the team’s franchise star, Jalen Brunson.
Knicks Players Reportedly Unhappy With Rick Brunson
The Knicks may have made the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years, but not everything is as rosy as it seems.
According to Sam Amico of Hoops Wire, several Knicks players are frustrated with assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of All-Star guard Jalen Brunson. While the exact reason for the tension isn’t fully clear, Amico noted that the main complaint is Rick’s outsized influence within the organization.
“Per Hoops Wire sources, multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of star guard Jalen Brunson,” Amico reported. “What that issue is, exactly, has not been determined, though sources suggested that Rick has had too big a say in things.”
Multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, per @AmicoHoops
“Per Hoops Wire sources, multiple Knicks players have been unhappy with the presence of assistant coach Rick Brunson, the father of star guard Jalen Brunson. What that… pic.twitter.com/rcDvgSxkJH
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 4, 2025
That’s a serious charge, especially when one source reportedly went as far as to say Rick holds “the most power in the entire organization.”
Rick joined the Knicks coaching staff in 2022, right before Jalen signed with the team in free agency. The two have been viewed as strong supporters of Thibodeau, and Jalen even defended the now-fired coach following their playoff elimination at the hands of the Pacers.
Is Rick on His Way Out After Thibodeau?
With Thibodeau gone, the Knicks are actively searching for a new head coach, and the drama surrounding Rick could complicate things. Besides, Ian Begley of SNY reported that Knicks president Leon Rose decided to fire Thibodeau after meeting with his top players. That detail adds another layer to the story: If Rick is a source of tension in the locker room, could he be the next person pushed out?
However, that might not be so simple. According to Begley, Rick’s job could be safe for one big reason — Jalen.
“If you’re a new head coach and you want to connect with the face of your franchise, would you want to piss him off by firing his dad? It doesn’t strike me as a logical move,” Begley said.
It’s a fair point. Brunson has become the heart and soul of this Knicks team. He’s delivered back-to-back 50-win seasons and is one of the league’s rising stars. Firing his father could risk upsetting the team’s top player — a move few coaches would want to make on Day 1.
Still, it’s an awkward situation. Rick is a former NBA player with nearly a decade of experience on the court and has served as an assistant coach with teams like the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves. But now, with questions about favoritism and influence swirling, his presence may put the Knicks’ new coach in a tough spot.
Interestingly, former NBA player Lou Williams even suggested Rick should be considered for the head coaching job. That seems like a long shot, but it shows how divided opinions are when it comes to his role.
One thing is clear, though — the Knicks aren’t just hunting for a coach to chase a championship; they’re also managing some serious internal politics.
