GREENBURGH, N.Y. -- Jalen Brunson admitted it was hard for him to see Tom Thibodeau, whom he's known since childhood, depart the New York Knicks .

Brunson spoke publicly for the first time since the Knicks fired Thibodeau in June, ending his five-year coaching tenure punctuated by New York's first appearance in the Eastern Conference finals since 2000.

"I think obviously it's sad to see a man I've known for a long time part ways with this organization," Brunson said Tuesday at the Knicks' season-opening media day. "But he's meant a lot to me. I've expressed that to him, publicly and personally. He's meant a lot to my career up to this point."

Brunson's relationship with Thibodeau goes back to childhood, as his father, Rick, has both served as an assistant coach on Thibodeau's coachi

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