Rick Brunson

Rick Brunson
Brunson watching the 2014 IHSA tournament at the Peoria Civic Center
Personal information
Born (1972-06-14) June 14, 1972
Syracuse, New York
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight 190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school Salem (Salem, Massachusetts)
College Temple (1991–1995)
NBA draft 1995 / Undrafted
Playing career 1995–2006
Position Guard
Number 9, 11, 40, 5
Career history
As player:
1995–1996 Adelaide 36ers
1996–1997 Quad City Thunder
1997 Connecticut Pride
1997–1998 Portland Trail Blazers
1998–1999 Connecticut Pride
1999–2000 New York Knicks
2000 Boston Celtics
2000–2001 New York Knicks
2001–2002 Portland Trail Blazers
2002–2003 Chicago Bulls
2003 Toronto Raptors
2003–2004 Chicago Bulls
2004 Progresso Castelmaggiore
2004–2005 Los Angeles Clippers
2005–2006 Seattle SuperSonics
2006 Houston Rockets
As coach:
2007 Denver Nuggets (assistant)
2009–2010 Hartford (assistant)
2010–2012 Chicago Bulls (assistant)
2012–2013 Charlotte Bobcats (assistant)
2016–2018 Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 1,090 (3.2 ppg)
Rebounds 447 (1.3 rpg)
Assists 876 (2.6 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Eric Daniel "Rick" Brunson[1] (born June 14, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player and coach who was last an assistant coach of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played 9 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and has also worked as an assistant coach for several teams. He played college basketball for Temple.

Professional playing career

Born in Syracuse, New York, he attended Salem High School, becoming the only McDonald's All-American from Massachusetts in 1991.[2] Brunson graduated from Temple University. Not drafted by any NBA team in 1995, he played for the Adelaide 36ers[3] in Australia in 1995-96 for whom he was their season MVP,[4] and in the CBA next season. He was signed as a free agent by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1997–98, playing again in the CBA at the start of the 1998–99 season. Brunson then signed with the New York Knicks, and was a member of the 1999 Eastern Conference championship team. In 2000–01, he started off with the Boston Celtics, but finished the season with the Knicks again. He rejoined the Trail Blazers in 2001–02. He then signed with the Chicago Bulls the next season, splitting between the Bulls and the Toronto Raptors in 2003–04, before moving on to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004–05. A breakout season in which he averaged a career-high 5.5 points per game landed him a 2005–06 contract with the Seattle SuperSonics, but only appeared in four games due to injury. On February 28, 2006, the Sonics waived Brunson. He was subsequently signed by the Houston Rockets, with whom he finished his ninth and final season as a professional basketball player.

Coaching career

From January to April 2007, Brunson worked as an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, focusing on player development. From 2007 to 2009, he was with the University of Virginia as the Cavaliers' director of basketball operations. In May 2009, Brunson was hired as assistant coach for the Hartford Hawks men's basketball team.[5] On September 9, 2010, Brunson was hired as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls.

During the 2012–13 season, Brunson served as an assistant coach to Mike Dunlap on the Charlotte Bobcats' staff.

Brunson was also an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2016 to 2018. In May 2018, Brunson resigned amidst allegations made against him regarding misconduct toward women.[6]

Career highlights

  • Career Scoring Average
  • 3.2
  • Scoring Average - Career High
  • 5.5 (04-05)
  • Most Points in a Season
  • 437 (04-05)
  • Most Points in a Game
  • 19 (for Portland against the L.A. Lakers 02/04/98)
  • Career Points Scored
  • 1,090
  • Average Minutes Per Game (Career)
  • 13.5
  • Most Blocks in a Season
  • 7 (04-05)
  • Most Offensive Rebounds in a Season
  • 23 (01-02 and 04-05)
  • Most Free Throws Made - Game

Personal life

Brunson embraces son Jalen as Sandra Brunson looks on after winning the 2015 IHSA Class 4A championship.

Brunson met his wife, Sandra, at Temple University where he played for the Owls men's basketball team and she played volleyball.[8] Rick went on to spend nine seasons in the NBA.[9] The couple has two children: Jalen (born 1996) and Erica (born c. 2000/01).[8][9] The family settled in Cherry Hill, New Jersey for much of his NBA career,[8], but moved seven times before settling in Lincolnshire, Illinois, in 2010 where Jalen played his high school career for Adlai E. Stevenson High School before joining Villanova.[8] Jalen was named the 2014 and 2015 Illinois Boys' Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year as a junior and senior,[10][11] was named to the 2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game roster,[12] was named Illinois Mr. Basketball,[13] and led his team to the 2015 Illinois High School Association Class 4A championship.[14][15]

Arrest

Brunson was arrested in June 2014 and indicted on charges of attempted criminal sexual assault, criminal sexual abuse, aggravated battery and domestic battery following an encounter with a massage therapist at a Lifetime Fitness in Vernon Hills. Authorities say Brunson used the name of retired NBA star Patrick Ewing to book an appointment in April with the massage therapist who had previously notified Brunson that she would no longer provide him with massages. Brunson pleaded not guilty to all charges.[16] He later testified that the incident that led to the charges was a consensual act as part of an ongoing extramarital relationship. He was eventually acquitted.[17]

References

  1. ↑ "BULLS: Rick Brunson Player Profile". Archived from the original on October 5, 2002. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
  2. ↑ Bonato, Bryan (2014-05-11). "Chris Herren, Jalen Brunson's dad reunite at Stevenson High presentation". Lake County News-Sun. Retrieved 2014-06-25.
  3. ↑ Sixers No. 1 for Tyndale
  4. ↑ Adelaide 36ers: Year-by-Year History
  5. ↑ ESPN - Andy Katz Blog: 10 programs primed to rise this season
  6. ↑ Krawczynski, Jon (8 May 2018). "Assistant coach Rick Brunson resigns from Wolves amid allegations of improper conduct toward women (UPDATES)". The Atlantic. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  7. ↑ Rick Brunson Career Statistics, NBA.com Retrieved on 23-03-2008.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Breen, Matt (2014-06-21). "Temple, Villanova on Jalen Brunson's list". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly.com. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  9. 1 2 "Jalen Brunson". USA Basketball. 2014-06-15. Retrieved 2014-06-24.
  10. ↑ "Stevenson High School Standout Named Gatorade Illinois Boys' Basketball Player of the Year" (PDF). Gatorade. 2014-03-21. Retrieved 2014-03-29.
  11. ↑ Narang, Bob (2015-03-20). "Boys' basketball: After season, Morgan Park's LoVett to tackle recruitment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
  12. ↑ Borzello, Jeff (2015-01-28). "East, West rosters unveiled". ESPN. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
  13. ↑ Mayor, Rich (2015-03-24). "Boys' basketball: Stevenson's Jalen Brunson wins Mr. Basketball of Illinois". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  14. ↑ Helfgot, Mike (2015-03-21). "Boys' basketball: Jalen Brunson, Stevenson win first state title". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-03-23.
  15. ↑ Reynolds, Dave (2015-03-22). "Stevenson all-stater Jalen Brunson does talking on court". The Journal Star. Retrieved 2015-03-23.
  16. ↑ "Ex-Bull charged with attempted criminal sexual assault, battery".
  17. ↑ "Ex-Bull Brunson not guilty of sex abuse charges".
  • "Profile at NBA.com". Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved July 4, 2007.
  • Profile at Virginiasports.com
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