Rick Brunson jokes that young Jalen was 'awful' at football
The short version
- Rick Brunson said Jalen was 'awful' at football as a child in Pop Warner
- Sandra Brunson defended Jalen, saying football should not count
- Rick and Jalen won a Knicks championship together in 2026, the franchise's first in 53 years
- The Knicks begin the season Oct. 20 vs. the 76ers at Madison Square Garden
Jalen Brunson's father said on the Tamron Hall Show that the Knicks star struggled in Pop Warner football as a child.
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson appeared on the Tamron Hall Show on Sept. 21 alongside his parents, Rick and Sandra Brunson. When asked whether their son was bad at anything growing up, Rick said football was not his sport.
Rick, now an assistant coach with the Knicks, recalled Jalen's days in Pop Warner, where he said every child was required to play at least eight plays. He joked that Jalen was 'the eight play guy,' adding that watching him was painful at the time.
Sandra came to her son's defense, arguing that football should not count, while Jalen laughed through the exchange and told his father he would not let him spread lies about him.
Rick was a member of the 1999 Knicks team that lost in the NBA Finals to the San Antonio Spurs. He later won a championship as a Knicks assistant with Jalen leading the roster, ending a 53-year title drought for the franchise.
The Knicks open the regular season Oct. 20 against the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden.