HOUSTON - Houston Rockets General Manager Carroll Dawson announced today that the team has claimed guard Rick Brunson off waivers from the Seattle SuperSonics.

 Brunson (6-4, Temple) has averaged 3.3 points, 1.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 314 career games (51 starts) with the Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers and Seattle. In 2005-06, Brunson has averaged 2.5 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists in four games with Seattle. He registered eight minutes of playing time at San Antonio (2/21), which was his first action since opening night. Brunson missed 48 games (11/4/05-1/13/06, 1/25/06-2/15/06) due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He scored a season-high six points at Orlando (2/24). Brunson was waived by the Sonics on Feb. 28, 2006.

 Playing in his ninth NBA season, Brunson was not drafted by an NBA franchise. His first regular season stop in the NBA came with Portland in 1997-98, appearing in 38 games (10 starts) for the Trail Blazers. He then spent the next two seasons with the Knicks (1998-99; 1999-2000) before joining the Celtics for the start of 2000-01 season. Brunson returned to New York after being claimed off waivers by the Knicks on Nov. 27, 2000. He then appeared in a 59 games (two starts) with the Trail Blazers in 2001-02. Over the next two seasons (2002-03; 2003-04), Brunson split time between the Bulls and Raptors. His best season came in 2004-05 with the Clippers, averaging career bests in points (5.5), assists (5.1), rebounds (2.3) and steals (1.03), while playing in a career-high 80 games (39 starts).

 As a collegian, Brunson averaged 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists over four seasons at Temple. He also participated in the Continental Basketball Association over three seasons with the Quad City Thunder (1996-97) and Connecticut Pride (1997-98, 1998-99).