Rick Brunson
Eric Daniel "Rick" Brunson (born June 14, 1972) is an American professional basketball coach and former point guard who played nine seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) after going undrafted out of Temple University.[1] He appeared in 337 regular-season games across eight teams, averaging 2.2 points per game, with his most productive year in 2004–05 when he started 28 games for the Portland Trail Blazers.[1] Brunson began his coaching career as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011 and later held positions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets before joining the New York Knicks in 2022, where he works alongside his son, All-Star guard Jalen Brunson, whom he trained from a young age.[2] At Temple, he scored 1,493 career points, ranking 11th in program history upon graduation.[3] His NBA playing tenure included stints with the Knicks in 1999–2000, contributing to their Eastern Conference Finals appearance, a run that paralleled the disciplined work ethic he instilled in his family.[4]
Early Life and Education
Childhood and Upbringing
Eric Daniel Brunson was born on June 14, 1972, in Syracuse, New York.[1][5] He spent his early years in Syracuse, where he developed an interest in basketball through participation in local youth leagues, establishing himself as a proficient point guard from a young age.[6] Brunson later relocated to Salem, Massachusetts, and attended Salem High School, graduating in 1991.[7] There, he distinguished himself as a standout player, earning selection as one of Massachusetts's two McDonald's All-Americans that year alongside Ronnie Fields.[8] His high school performance highlighted his skills in ball-handling and scoring, setting the stage for his collegiate recruitment.[6]College Career at Temple University
Rick Brunson played college basketball for the Temple Owls from 1991 to 1995 under Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, appearing in four NCAA Tournaments during his tenure.[9][10] As a highly touted recruit, he started as a reserve point guard as a freshman in the 1991–92 season, averaging 4.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game across 30 appearances while shooting 32.0% from the field.[9] Brunson emerged as a starter in his sophomore year (1992–93), boosting his production to 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game in 33 games, with a field goal percentage of 39.6%.[9] As a junior in 1993–94, he earned second-team All-Atlantic 10 honors and led the conference in steals with 83, averaging 12.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game.[9] In his senior season (1994–95), Brunson received first-team All-Atlantic 10 recognition and All-Atlantic 10 Tournament honors, topping the team in scoring (16.7 points per game), assists (123 total), and steals (74) over 30 games, while improving his free-throw shooting to 69.9%.[9][10] Over his career, Brunson appeared in 124 games, accumulating 1,493 points (12.0 per game), 481 rebounds (3.9 per game), and 470 assists (3.8 per game), with a career field goal percentage of 36.6%.[9] At the time of his graduation in 1995, his 1,493 points ranked 11th in Temple history; his 470 assists placed fifth all-time, and his 253 steals ranked sixth.[3][10] He was inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.[3]| Season | Games | PPG | RPG | APG | FG% | FT% | Honors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 (Freshman) | 30 | 4.9 | 2.6 | 1.9 | .320 | .609 | None |
| 1992–93 (Sophomore) | 33 | 14.0 | 3.0 | 4.5 | .396 | .655 | None |
| 1993–94 (Junior) | 31 | 12.4 | 4.1 | 4.6 | .370 | .647 | All-A-10 Second Team; A-10 Steals Leader |
| 1994–95 (Senior) | 30 | 16.7 | 5.9 | 4.1 | .366 | .699 | All-A-10 First Team; All-A-10 Tournament |
Professional Playing Career
Undrafted Entry and Early Professional Experience
Rick Brunson went undrafted in the 1995 NBA Draft after a college career at Temple University.[11] On September 1, 1995, he signed a contract as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers.[11] However, the 76ers waived him on October 31, 1995, making him a free agent effective November 2, 1995.[11] Following his release, Brunson began his professional playing career overseas with the Adelaide 36ers of Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1995–96 season.[12] He made his NBL debut with the 36ers at age 23, scoring 25 points in his first game.[13] Brunson played in Australia from approximately February through October 1996, gaining experience as a point guard in a competitive league.[14] After his stint in Australia, Brunson returned to the United States and joined the Quad City Thunder of the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the 1996–97 season.[15] He then signed with the Orlando Magic on September 30, 1997, but was waived on October 20, 1997.[11] On December 2, 1997, Brunson signed with the Portland Trail Blazers, marking his entry into regular NBA rotation play during the 1997–98 season, where he appeared in 38 games, averaging 4.3 points and 2.6 assists per game.[1][11]NBA Tenure and Team Affiliations
Rick Brunson began his NBA career as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Portland Trail Blazers for the 1997–98 season, where he appeared in 38 games primarily off the bench as a point guard.[1] His role expanded slightly in subsequent stints, but he remained a journeyman reserve player throughout his nine-season tenure, accumulating 337 regular-season games across eight franchises with career averages of 3.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game.[1] Following his time in Portland, Brunson joined the New York Knicks, playing 17 games in 1998–99, 37 in 1999–00, and 15 more in 2000–01, often contributing as a backup during the Knicks' playoff-contending years.[1] He briefly signed with the Boston Celtics in 2000–01, appearing in 7 games before returning to New York later that season.[1] After a gap playing overseas and in the CBA, Brunson signed with the Chicago Bulls, suiting up for 17 games in 2002–03 and 37 in 2003–04, where he averaged around 3 points and 2 assists per game in limited minutes.[1] Brunson's later affiliations included short stints with the Toronto Raptors (3 games in 2003–04), a more substantial role with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2004–05 (80 games, 5.5 PPG, 5.1 APG), and minimal appearances for the Seattle SuperSonics (4 games) and Houston Rockets (23 games) during the 2005–06 season, marking the end of his playing career.[1] These affiliations reflect his persistence as a depth player in a league favoring athleticism over his crafty, left-handed ball-handling style.[1]| Team | Seasons | Games Played |
|---|---|---|
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1997–98 | 38 |
| New York Knicks | 1998–01 | 69 |
| Boston Celtics | 2000–01 | 7 |
| Chicago Bulls | 2002–04 | 54 |
| Toronto Raptors | 2003–04 | 3 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 2004–05 | 80 |
| Seattle SuperSonics | 2005–06 | 4 |
| Houston Rockets | 2005–06 | 23 |
Career Statistics and Playing Style
Rick Brunson appeared in 337 regular-season games over nine NBA seasons from 1997 to 2006, suiting up for eight franchises: the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, Seattle SuperSonics, and Houston Rockets.[1] As an undrafted free agent and journeyman backup point guard, he logged 4,401 total minutes while averaging 13.1 minutes per game.[1] His career per-game averages included 3.2 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, with shooting splits of 37.5% from the field, 36.4% from three-point range, and 70.2% from the free-throw line.[1][16]| Category | Per Game Average | Career Total |
|---|---|---|
| Points | 3.2 | 1,090 |
| Rebounds | 1.3 | 448 |
| Assists | 2.6 | 876 |
| Minutes | 13.1 | 4,401 |
| FG% | .375 | - |
| 3P% | .364 | - |
| FT% | .702 | - |