The NBA has concluded its tampering investigation in regards to the Knicks’ free agency pursuit of Jalen Brunson, and has determined that New York violated league rules.
The penalty? The Knicks will lose their second-round pick in 2025.
“The New York Knicks violated league rules governing the timing of this season’s free agency discussions and that the league has rescinded New York’s own second-round pick in the 2025 Draft,” the league said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “This outcome reflected a finding, following an investigation, that the Knicks engaged in free agency discussions involving Jalen Brunson prior to the date when such discussions were permitted.”
According to SNY’s Ian Begley, the league also investigated New York’s hiring of Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, and the signing of the team’s other free agent addition of the offseason, Isaiah Hartenstein. Per Begley, the league found that the Knicks made no violations in those additions.
The Knicks were clearly invested in Brunson before the offseason, scouting him in person while Brunson was still in the playoffs with the Mavericks. He signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks this past summer and has helped the team solidify a point guard position that has been sorely lacking in years past.
Brunson is currently averaging 20.8 points per game while shooting 46.8 percent from the floor, and the Knicks have won eight straight.
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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