Jalen Brunson family tree: Meet NBA coach dad Rick, mom, more about Knicks star
· Yahoo Sports
Jalen Brunson family tree: Meet NBA coach dad Rick, mom, more about Knicks star originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.
Jalen Brunson is the star the New York Knicks had awaited since Carmelo Anthony's exit, even if few expected him to become the sensation he is today.
When Brunson was first headed for free agency after four years with the Dallas Mavericks, the Knicks became a natural destination the moment his dad, Rick, was hired as an assistant coach on Tom Thibodeau's staff in early June.
From there, the process played out in slow motion. It became apparent Brunson would be a Knick, with the only lingering question being whether the former national champion was actually worth the deal he was getting from the organization.
Every season since, Brunson has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that he is built for the spotlight of New York.
Here's a look at Brunson's family tree, including his dad's longstanding ties to the Knicks.
MORE: Who are SN's greatest Knicks of all time?
Jalen Brunson's dad: Rick Brunson
Jalen wasn't the first player in his family to be overlooked by the NBA. His father, Rick, went undrafted out of Temple in 1995 and didn't make his NBA debut until the 1997-98 season with the Trail Blazers.
Rick would become a journeyman backup point guard, spending time with the Knicks, Bulls, Clippers, Celtics, Sonics, Raptors, Rockets and even the Trail Blazers again, only averaging more than 15 minutes per game in two different seasons.
Rick was on the Knicks' 1999 NBA Finals team but played less than a minute in the series loss to the Spurs. His biggest role in the NBA didn't come until 2004-05, when he started 39 games and averaged 5.1 assists per game for the Clippers alongside Elton Brand.
After his playing career ended, Rick broke into coaching as an assistant with the Nuggets and would spend time under Tom Thibodeau with both the Bulls and Timberwolves. Rick became the head coach at Camden High School in New Jersey in 2019 until he left to rejoin Thibodeau on the Knicks' staff and soon welcomed his son to the Big Apple.
With Jalen now the centerpiece for the Knicks, Rick remained on the staff after Mike Brown replaced Thibodeau.
MORE: Who are the most notable celebrities that support the Knicks?
Jalen Brunson's mom: Sandra Brunson
Rick Brunson met his wife and Jalen's mom, Sandra, at Temple. Sandra played volleyball for the Owls, also majoring in business law and minoring in real estate.
After her college days, Sandra worked in corporate law in New York City. She is now listed as the co-founder and chief financial officer of the Second Round Foundation, which was created "to advance a vision centered on expanding access, opportunity, and equity for young people."
In 2020, Jalen credited his mom with making him relentless in his quest to keep improving. "She was the general. She held me accountable for everything I did," Jalen told WFAA. "If I was putting my mind to something, I couldn't quit until it was done."
MORE:When was the Knicks' last championship?
Jalen Brunson's wife: Ali Marks Brunson
Brunson married his wife, Ali Marks, in 2023, but the two met all the way back in high school in the Chicago area. Brunson brought Ali back to their high school gym to propose to her in 2021.
View this post on Instagram
Despite going to different colleges — Ali went to the University of Illinois — the two remained together from a distance. Ali found her way back to Chicago to earn a doctorate degree in physical therapy at Northwestern University in 2021 and worked as a physical therapist at a Dallas clinic while Brunson played for the Mavericks.
Today, Ali has her own private practice and also works as a fitness instructor at kids learning center Community of Play in New Rochelle, New York.
MORE:Ranking the most devoted celebrity Knicks fans
Jalen Brunson daughter: Jordyn Brunson
The Brunsons welcomed their first child, daughter Jordyn, on July 31, 2024. Jordyn has already been spotted watching her dad at Knicks games.
View this post on Instagram
Jalen Brunson's sister: Erica Brunson
Brunson only has one sibling, a younger sister named Erica.
Erica works in client and marketing services at talent agency CAA, which once employed Knicks president Leon Rose as one of its most prominent agents. Erica is also a vocal defender of her brother and the Knicks on social media.
Like Jalen, Erica spent her college days at Villanova, earning a communications degree.
MORE: Where Willis Reed's 1970 heroics rank among gutsiest performances in playoff history
Where is Jalen Brunson from?
Despite attending high school in the Chicago area, Brunson is originally from New Jersey. He was born in New Brunswick and grew up in southern New Jersey until sixth grade, when his family started moving around as his father's coaching career gained momentum.
Brunson came back closer to home when he committed to Villanova, and it's no surprise the New York area was appealing to him in free agency in 2022.