Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas thinks something suspicious is going on with the New York Knicks’ head coaching search.
The Knicks have faced heavy criticism this offseason over their failed attempts to replace Tom Thibodeau.
The team has reportedly shown interest in several current head coaches, including Ime Udoka, Jason Kidd, and Chris Finch — but each time, they’ve been denied permission to interview those candidates.
On a recent episode of his “Gil’s Arena” podcast, Arenas floated a theory behind New York’s puzzling approach. He believes the Knicks are deliberately staging a failed coaching search to pave the way for Jalen Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, to take over the role.
“You already have your coach — it’s Jalen Brunson’s father,” Arenas said. “But you can’t just hand him the job. So you make offers to guys who already have jobs, knowing they’ll say no. That way, you can make it look like a real search and then ‘settle’ for Rick. ‘Oh, nobody wanted the job, so we gave it to Rick.’ It’s slick.”
Rick Brunson, a former Knicks player, joined the coaching staff as an assistant under Thibodeau in June 2022 — just a month before Jalen Brunson signed with New York in free agency. Since then, Rick has played a prominent behind-the-scenes role, which has reportedly drawn mixed reactions from players and staff.
While Arenas is known for some far-fetched theories, the idea of Rick Brunson taking over as head coach may not be that far off. Given the way things are unfolding, his elevation to the top job could very well be part of the Knicks’ long game.