Jalen Brunson, a professional basketball player from the United States, is a member of the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is in his 4th season and was selected as the 33rd pick in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks.
Jalen Brunson Profile Summary
Full name: Jalen Brunson
Date of birth: August 31, 1996
Age: 28 years old (2024)
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Nationality: American
Height: 6 ft 3 in
Draft: 2018
Role: Point Guard
Debut: October 17, 2018
Nickname: The Brunson Burner
Marital status: Married
Wife’s name: Ali Marks
Profession: NBA player
Early Life & Education
Jalen Brunson was born in the United States on August 31, 1996, in the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey. He hails from a family with a strong athletic background, as his parents were both formerly involved in sports.
Brunson attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, where he played basketball at the high school level. As a junior, he was highly regarded as one of the best point guards in the nation and received a number-one ranking from Scout.com.
In 2014, Brunson received the title of Illinois Boys Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year. He also took part in the 2015 McDonald’s All-American Boys Game and the 2015 Jordan Brand Classic. He also proudly represented Team USA in the Nike Hoop Summit.
During his final year of high school, Brunson was once again selected as the Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. He played a crucial role in the Illinois High School Association’s victory in the Class 4A championship and was honored with his third Associated Press All-State award.
After the season ended, Jalen Brunson received the title of Illinois Mr. Basketball. Upon finishing high school in 2014–15, he enrolled at Villanova University. He played a key role in the Wildcats’ victory in the 2016 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament.
In 2015-16, he earned the title of Big East Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year and was selected for the Big East All-Freshman Team. As a sophomore, Brunson was unanimously chosen as the 2016-17 All-Big East first-team member for the 2016-17 Wildcats.
During his third year of college, he played a crucial role in leading his team to victory in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament, resulting in Villanova’s second National Championship win in three years. He was also recognized as the National Player of the Year and a Consensus first-team 2018 All-American.
NBA Career
Jalen Brunson was selected as the 33rd overall pick by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft. In October 2018, Brunson made his debut for the Dallas Mavericks after signing a four-year contract with a three-year guarantee. During the game against the Phoenix Suns, he contributed 3 points, 1 rebound, and 1 assist.
Due to injuries to his teammates J.J. Barea and Devin Harris, Brunson was allowed to display his abilities. This resulted in him achieving his first career double-double, recording 13 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists against the Philadelphia 76ers.
During the 2020-21 NBA season, Brunson achieved his highest career averages in points, rebounds, and assists, earning him a fourth-place spot in the voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award.
The following year, the Mavericks had a successful season, making it to the Western Conference finals after a dominating win over the Suns, but ultimately fell to the Warriors in the finals.
In July 2022, Brunson moved to the New York Knicks after agreeing to a four-year contract worth $104 million. He was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for February 2023 and received his first NBA Player of the Month award.
Personal Life
Jalen Brunson hit the jackpot when he began a relationship with Ali Marks while in high school. After nine years of dating, the professional basketball player proposed to his loyal girlfriend in September 2022. Marks shared pictures from the proposal on her Instagram with the caption, “you are a lifetime.”
Net Worth
Jalen Brunson, the 28-year-old point guard of the New York Knicks, has a total fortune of $1.4 million. He was chosen by the Dallas Mavericks in a $6 million contract spread over four years, with an annual salary close to $1.5 million.
Following the expiration of his contract, Jalen secured a profitable agreement and joined the New York Knicks on July 12, 2022, in a deal worth $104 million over four years.
