Timberwolves assistant coach resigns amid claims of improper conduct

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Rick Brunson has resigned amid reports that women had accused him of improper conduct.

The Timberwolves announced Brunson’s resignation Tuesday in a one-sentence statement, but did not provide a reason for his departure. The Star Tribune, citing a source it did not identify, reported that the 45-year-old Brunson had been the subject of complaints of improper conduct toward women. The Athletic also reported he was the subject of improper conduct allegations.

The Timberwolves did not return phone calls seeking comment.

In 2014, Brunson was arrested in Chicago and charged with sexually assaulting a massage therapist. He was acquitted of all counts in that case.

The Timberwolves hired Brunson in 2016, and last season was his fourth working under coach Tom Thibodeau. Brunson had previous assistant coaching jobs with the Denver Nuggets, Charlotte and Chicago, where he worked under Thibodeau.

Brunson also played in the NBA for nine years, including stops in New York and Houston. He made it to the playoffs in five of his nine seasons, and was a member of the 1999 Eastern Conference Champion New York Knicks, who lost to San Antonio in the finals.

Brunson is the father of Jalen Brunson, The Associated Press men’s college basketball player of the year who declared for the NBA draft last month after winning two national titles at Villanova. The star guard averaged 18.9 points and 4.6 assists per game in 40 games for the Wildcats this season.