Jalen Brunson has had an impressive professional basketball career since joining the NBA in 2018 but fans are eager to learn more about his family following his recent injury on May 19, 2024.
Born on August 31, 1997, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Jalen moved around frequently with his family due to his father, Rick Brunson’s basketball career before settling in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Jalen, who plays as a point guard for the New York Knicks, was selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft before signing with the Knicks in 2022 after four seasons with the Mavericks.
Jalen, who played college basketball at Villanova University, is married to his high school sweetheart, Ali Marks, and the couple had a lavish ceremony at The Ritz-Carlton in Chicago in July 2023.
Jalen’s parents, Rick, and Sandra Brunson met at Temple University where they were both student-athletes. Born in Syracuse, New York, in 1972, Rick is currently an assistant coach for the Knicks and has previously coached for other teams like the Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Bobcats (now the Charlotte Hornets), and Denver Nuggets. Sandra, who was on Temple’s volleyball team during college, played a significant role in Jalen’s athletic development alongside his father.
Rick passed on his basketball knowledge to Jalen during his childhood, and Sandra instilled in him a strong work ethic and no-quit mentality. Jalen also has a younger sister named Erica Brunson, who recently started working as a client services and social media specialist for Creative Artists Agency after studying at Villanova from 2019 to 2023.
As Jalen recuperates from his injury, fans are not only rooting for his swift recovery but also taking an interest in the close-knit family that has played a crucial role in his success on and off the court.
