Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks
Locked On Knicks - Daily Podcast On The New York Knicks

KNICKS SQUAD SHOW: Rick Brunson on CHAMPIONSHIP, Coaching JALEN, & SECRETS of Knicks Success!

September 19, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Rick Brunson, the New York Knicks assistant coach and father of Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, joined the Locked On Knicks Squad Show alongside former teammate John Wallace. The conversation moved from their shared childhood in upstate New York through Brunson’s relentless one-year-contract NBA career to the details of how a father coaches his son to a championship. Brunson offered a behind-the-scenes look at the Knicks’ title run, the specific role of head coach Mike Brown, and the family dynamics that made it possible.

From Upstate Rivalry to NBA Brotherhood

Brunson and Wallace grew up as fierce competitors in Syracuse, playing marathon one-on-one sessions that lasted for hours. Wallace remembered the first time they played: Brunson “dominated me,” leaving Wallace so humiliated he vowed never to feel that powerless again. That competitive fire never cooled. When they met again years later in Summer League, Wallace said they “picked right up where we left off.”

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (01:06) **Introduction of Rick Brunson** - Rick Brunson, Knicks assistant coach and NBA champion, joins the show with John Wallace and the hosts.
  • 2 (03:30) **Earning Every Year: Rick Brunson’s NBA Career** - Brunson discusses the relentless grind of his playing career, which was defined by one-year contracts that forced him to earn his roster spot every single season.
  • 3 (04:48) **Early Motivation and the Syracuse Connection** - Brunson traces his drive back to his youth in Syracuse, where a coach turned his life around and he developed a love for competition.
  • 4 (06:05) **The First One-on-One: A Humbling Lesson** - John Wallace tells a vivid story about the first time he played Brunson one-on-one, a merciless drubbing that changed his mindset forever.
  • 5 (08:03) **The Transfer Decision: Temple, Family, and Jalen** - Brunson reveals he almost transferred from Temple after his freshman year, but returning was the best decision because it led him to his wife and, ultimately, to his son Jalen.
  • 6 (12:11) **The Championship Feeling: A Dream Still Sinking In** - Brunson describes the surreal, dreamlike feeling of winning the NBA championship, a moment he still revisits weekly by watching the final 20 seconds of the game.
  • 7 (14:58) **The Wife’s Role: The Balance Between Push and Love** - Brunson credits his wife as the essential “go-between” who managed the emotional temperature of Jalen’s development, ensuring the father-son coaching dynamic stayed healthy.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Rick Brunson John Wallace

Show Notes

SPECIAL GUEST! Champion Rick Brunson joins John Wallace, Chris Sacchi & Dan Favale of the Locked On Knicks Squad Show! Rick discusses his life-long friendship with John Wallace, winning the championship, coaching Jalen Brunson, working with Mike Brown, his relationship with Tom Thibodeau, SECRETS, and NEVER-TOLD stories you cannot miss as a New York Knicks Fan!

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