The NBA has cleared the Knicks of wrongdoing after an investigation into the promotion of the team's assistant coach Rick Brunson, officials confirmed.
The league is investigating whether Brunson's raise this season is related to his son Jalen signing a team-friendly contract extension, thereby violating salary cap rules, and the Knicks recently classified as “offensive'' and “harassment.''
Rick Brunson was promoted during the offseason after former associate head coach Johnny Bryant left to win the same title under new Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. SNY first reported that the NBA investigation had concluded.
“In response to rumors of an NBA investigation into Rick Brunson's promotion, Brunson will replace Johnny Bryant and receive the same annual salary as Bryant,” MSG Sports said on Nov. 18, “Rick “It's disgusting for someone to argue that he didn't deserve the promotion,” he said. “Rick has done a great job and will continue to do so.”
“We view this as further harassment of the Knicks for opposing certain issues in the NBA.”
Jalen Brunson signed a four-year contract extension worth $156 million in July, about $114 million less than the maximum he could have signed if he had waited until the summer of 2025. be.
Rick Brunson, who played three seasons with the Knicks as part of his nine-year NBA career, joined Tom Thibodeau's coaching staff in 2022 ahead of Jalen Brunson signing as a free agent.
In December of the same year, the NBA ruled that the Knicks violated league rules governing the timing of free agent negotiations this season. The team was stripped of its 2025 second-round pick for the violation.
