Jalen Brunson spoke publicly for the first time since the New York Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau as head coach following their run to the Eastern Conference Finals. Brunson has known Thibodeau since childhood through his father Rick Brunson.
“I think obviously it’s sad to see a man I’ve known for a long time part ways with this organization,” Brunson said Tuesday at the Knicks’ season-opening media day. “But he’s meant a lot to me. I’ve expressed that to him, publicly and personally. He’s meant a lot to my career up to this point.”
Brunson was supportive of the Knicks keeping Thibodeau as head coach after their season-ending loss to the Indiana Pacers back in May.
“Is that a real question right now? You just asked me if I believe he’s the right guy,” Brunson said at the time. “Yes. Come on.”
The Knicks hired Mike Brown as Thibodeau’s replacement and Brunson is optimistic about the change.
“Yeah, well, for me, it’s my job to go out there and just find a way to help this team win,” Brunson said. “There’s different people in this organization with different jobs and different things they have to do to make this team better. And that’s their point of view. For me, I have to come in and do my job to the best of my abilities.”