Jalen Brunson's Dad Faces Backlash For Behavior During Game 3 Loss

Jalen Brunson's dad, New York Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, is once again facing backlash for his behavior during an NBA Finals game.

The Knicks fell to the Spurs in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, ending their nearly two-month long win streak. New York is now leading San Antonio, 2-1, heading into Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals. The Spurs were desperate for a victory and they got it in a big way on Monday night.

Late in the second half, Knicks star Jalen Brunson took a hard foul. He was down on the ground for a few seconds, writhing in pain. Brunson's dad, Rick, immediately called for the refs to review the play, wanting a flagrant foul.

Video of Rick Brunson voicing his outrage from the bench has nearly two million views on social media.

It was a hard foul, no doubt, but it's part of the game. Rick Brunson is getting called out for being too emotional and too invested in the game involving his son.

Should someone's dad be on the coaching staff of an NBA team?

NBA fans are roasting Rick Brunson's behavior

NBA fans are calling out his behavior.

"I'm sorry but his father is way too emotional to be an assistant coach on his team," one fan wrote.

"So annoying," one fan added.

"He does this every time his son gets hurt . I get it but you're a coach," one fan added.

"He is the coach that every opposing team parent hates at a 10u basketball game," one fan added.

Earlier in the series, Rick Brunson faced backlash for leaving the bench during a confrontation involving his son and De'Aaron Fox.

Should an NBA assistant coach be behaving like that during a game, even if it is involving his son?

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 9:40 AM.