2025 Second-Round Pick Taken Away From Knicks For Tampering With Jalen Brunson

Phoenix Suns v Dallas Mavericks - Game Six — The Knicks lost their 2025 second round pick in connection with the tampering case involving Jalen Brunson. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

KEY POINTS

The NBA has determined the Knicks violated tampering rules while pursuing Jalen Brunson
New York also lost to the Raptors on the same day the league bared the findings of its investigation
The Knicks will try to get back on track when they host the Bulls on Friday

The New York Knicks suffered two huge blows on Wednesday, December 21, something that brought them crashing down back to earth.

On one end, the Knicks saw their eight-game winning streak come to a close after they lost to the Toronto Raptors, 113-106, at the Madison Square Garden.

Pascal Siakam of the Toronto Raptors made all the big plays down the stretch and was a one-man wrecking crew for head coach Nick Nurse.

The 28-year-old cager finished with a game-high 52 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

Fred VanVleet contributed 28 markers and four dimes as the Raptors practically led throughout the game.

Despite the loss, the Knicks still got sterling performances out of Julius Randle and RJ Barrett as both finished with 30 points apiece.

Notably missing was Jalen Brunson, someone who has been shining for head coach Tom Thibodeau, as he managed to finish with only sevent points but dished out 12 times and three caroms.

In a related development, the Knicks were also given a slap on the wrist involving the 26-year-old guard.

The five-month investigation into the Knicks was completed and the league announced on Wednesday that New York had violated the league rules governing the timing of this season's free agency discussions.

Hence, this meant that the Knicks tampered with Jalen Brunson and are now being punished.

The sanction handed to New York cost them the rights to their 2025 second-round pick.

It will be recalled that Brunson agreed to a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks last July.

However, that was not spared from criticism with New York being hit for engaging in conversations with the two-time NCAA champion before the free agency window opened.

Despite the two setbacks, the only thing the Knicks can do for now is move forward.

After dropping their first game since December 3 against the Dallas Mavericks, Thibodeau and company try to rebound when they face another struggling team in the Chicago Bulls on Friday, December 23 on their home floor.