Basketball Bloodline: Rick Brunson and His Son

Jalen Brunson's basketball gift has a clear lineage.

His father, Rick Brunson, played nine NBA seasons across several teams before turning coach. Today, Rick is an assistant coach for the New York Knicks — father and son share one franchise as player and coach, a warm rarity in the league.

Raised inside his father's professional basketball world, Jalen absorbed not just skills but professionalism: how to prepare, how to face lows, how to be a teammate. That "family schooling" shows in his game — calm, cool, team-first.

On the 2026 title night, cameras kept finding Rick courtside. The moment his son lifted the FMVP, it was also the echo of a father's basketball bloodline. For this family, the sport is a two-generation relay.

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For more Finals MVP breakdowns, see the Complete List of NBA Finals MVPs (1969–2026).