Minnesota Timberwolves assistant coach Rick Brunson resigns after sexual harassment allegations surface
By admin - 2018-05-08 18:16:22

Rick Brunson stepped down as assistant coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves Tuesday, The Minnesota Star-Tribune reported.

Brunson’s resignation comes amid sexual harassment claims from several women, one of whom is reportedly a member of the media. The 45-year-old former NBA player was one of four assistants to head coach Tom Thibodeau.

“Our entire organization — made up of the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Minnesota Lynx and Iowa Wolves — is deeply committed to creating a safe work environment for our employees, partners and fans,” the team said in a statement. “Our teams strive to have our actions reflect our values each and every day. We work to maintain high standards of conduct and expect our staff to lead by example. We did not believe Mr. Brunson’s conduct was consistent with those standards.”

The Timberwolves organization interviewed  two women about incidents with Brunson before the most recent issue, which occurred during the playoffs. A woman filed a complaint with the team about Brunson’s “unwanted advances.”

In 2014, Brunson was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and criminal sexual assault for allegedly sexually assaulting a massage therapist. He was acquitted of those charges in 2015.

A standout point guard at Temple University from 1991-95, Brunson played professionally for nine years, including stints with the Portland Trailblazers, New York Knicks, Chicago Bulls, and Los Angeles Clippers. He entered the coaching ranks in 2007 with the Denver Nuggets and spent time on the staffs of the Chicago Bulls and the Charlotte Bobcats before he joined the Timberwolves in 2016.