Jalen Marquis Brunson (born August 31, 1996) is an American professional basketball player. He plays as a Point guard for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Jalen is the son of former NBA player Rick Brunson. He was picked 33rd in the 2018 NBA draft by the Dallas Mavericks. He played his first four NBA seasons with them.

Before joining the NBA, Jalen played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats. He was named the best college player in the nation as a junior. He also helped Villanova win two national championships. In high school, Jalen led Stevenson to a state championship. He was named Illinois Mr. Basketball and the MVP of the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

Jalen joined the Knicks in 2022. With the Knicks, he became an NBA All-Star three times (2024–2026). He also earned three All-NBA Second Team selections. In 2025, he led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals. In 2026, he guided the team to their first NBA Finals since 1999. The Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973 that year. Jalen was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and the NBA Finals MVP for his amazing play.

Growing Up and Early Basketball Days

Jalen Brunson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He grew up in southern New Jersey until he was in sixth grade. His parents are Rick and Sandra Brunson. Rick, his father, played in the NBA for nine seasons. Jalen also has a sister named Erica.

His family moved several times before settling in Lincolnshire, Illinois, in 2010. This is where Jalen played his high school basketball. Growing up, Jalen often visited NBA locker rooms. His dad played for the Knicks, and his future coach, Tom Thibodeau, was an assistant there. Jalen even practiced with the Virginia Cavaliers women's basketball team when his family lived near the University of Virginia. As a teenager, he sometimes trained with NBA stars like Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah.

High School Basketball Journey

Brunson shooting in a high school championship game

As a freshman in 2012, Jalen was already recognized as an honorable mention for All–Lake County. His team, Stevenson High School, had a good season. In his sophomore year, Stevenson went on a 19-game winning streak. Jalen led them to the state championship game in 2013. They played against a strong team, but Jalen helped his team finish with an impressive 29–5 record. He averaged 21.5 points per game that season.

Brunson in a high school consolation game in 2014

During his junior year, Jalen set new school records. He scored 57 points in one game, becoming Stevenson's all-time leading scorer. He also set an IHSA playoff record with 56 points in a semifinal game. That season, Jalen averaged 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.9 steals. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois.

In 2014, Jalen decided where he would play college basketball. He chose Villanova. At the time, he was considered one of the best point guards in the country.

Brunson scoring his first points in the 2015 IHSA Class 4A title game

In his senior year, Jalen led Stevenson to its first state championship. He scored a record 30 points in the IHSA Class 4A title game. He was named Illinois Mr. Basketball for his outstanding performance. Jalen finished his high school career as a first-team Parade All-American. He was ranked as one of the top point guards in the nation.

College Basketball Success

Brunson playing in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game

Freshman Year: A National Champion

Jalen started his college career strong at Villanova. He was named to the preseason watchlist for the Bob Cousy Award. He was also chosen as the Big East Conference Preseason Freshman of the Year. Jalen helped his team become the top-ranked team in the country.

In 2016, Jalen was a starter when the Villanova Wildcats won the NCAA National Championship. This was a huge achievement for him and his team.

Sophomore Year: Continued Growth

Jalen continued to shine in his sophomore season. He was again on the Bob Cousy Award preseason watchlist. He scored a career-high 26 points in a game against La Salle. Later, he scored 27 points in a win against Creighton. These performances earned him Big East Player of the Week honors.

He also achieved his first career double-double with 22 points and 10 assists. After a great season, Jalen was a unanimous selection for the All-Big East first team. He decided to return to Villanova for his junior year.

Junior Year: National Player of the Year

Jalen's junior year was incredible. He was named the preseason All-Big East Player of the Year. He was also selected as a preseason All-American. Jalen led Villanova to win the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, earning MVP honors. He scored a career-high 31 points three times during the season.

Jalen was recognized as one of the top players in college basketball. He was named the Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. He also received many national awards, including the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award. He was a consensus first-team All-American.

In 2018, Jalen led Villanova to another NCAA National Championship. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the East Region. After this amazing season, he decided to enter the 2018 NBA draft. Villanova later retired his No. 1 jersey to honor his contributions.

Professional Basketball Career

Dallas Mavericks (2018–2022)

Starting in the NBA

On June 21, 2018, the Dallas Mavericks drafted Jalen with the 33rd overall pick. He was the fourth Villanova player chosen in the 2018 NBA draft. Jalen made his NBA debut on October 17, 2018. He quickly showed his skills, scoring 11 points against the Utah Jazz.

He started in place of injured teammates and set new career highs. He scored 14 points against the Houston Rockets and 17 points against the Orlando Magic. On January 5, 2019, he recorded his first professional double-double. He had 13 points and a career-high 11 rebounds. Later, he scored a career-high 34 points against the San Antonio Spurs.

Growing into a Key Player

During the 2020–21 NBA season, Jalen achieved career highs in points, rebounds, and assists. He finished fourth in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award. He became a starter in the 2021–22 NBA season. He continued to improve his stats, setting new career highs.

His breakout continued in the playoffs. On April 18, 2022, Jalen had an incredible game. He scored 41 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out five assists. He helped the Mavericks reach the Western Conference finals.

New York Knicks (2022–present)

Joining the Knicks and Making an Impact

On July 12, 2022, Jalen signed a four-year contract with the New York Knicks. His father was also hired as an assistant coach for the team. Jalen made his Knicks debut on October 19, scoring 15 points. He quickly became a leader for the team.

On January 9, 2023, Jalen scored a career-high 44 points against the Milwaukee Bucks. He was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week. He had a streak of eight straight games with 25 or more points. This was the longest streak by a Knicks guard since 1965.

On February 8, Villanova retired his jersey, a great honor. Jalen continued his strong play, earning his first NBA Player of the Month award for February 2023. He finished the month averaging 27.3 points and 6.0 assists. On March 31, he scored a career-high 48 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. In the 2023 playoffs, he joined Knicks legends Walt Frazier and Patrick Ewing with a 30-point, 10-assist playoff game.

All-Star and All-NBA Recognition

Jalen continued to excel in the 2023–2024 season. He earned his second NBA Player of the Week award in November 2023. On December 15, he scored a career-high 50 points. He made all nine of his three-point shots, tying an NBA record. This was the first 50-point game in NBA history without a missed three-pointer (minimum 8 attempts).

On January 1, 2024, Jalen set a career-high with 14 assists. He was named an NBA All-Star reserve for the first time. He scored 40 or more points in back-to-back games multiple times. On March 29, Jalen scored a career-high 61 points against the San Antonio Spurs. This was just one point shy of the Knicks' franchise record. He finished the season with 36 games of 30+ points, tying a Knicks record. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the first time.

In the 2024 playoffs, Jalen set a Knicks single-game playoff record with 47 points. He became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to end a playoff series with three straight 40+ point games. He also became the first player in NBA history to score 40+ points with 5+ assists in four consecutive playoff games. In game 7 of the second round, Jalen fractured his left hand. He underwent surgery to repair it.

Clutch Player and Eastern Conference Finals

On July 12, 2024, Jalen signed a four-year contract extension with the Knicks. He was named the 36th captain in franchise history on August 6. He continued to be a clutch performer. On December 28, Jalen scored 55 points, with 42 coming in the second half and overtime.

On January 25, 2025, Jalen was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. On April 23, Jalen was named the NBA Clutch Player of the Year. He led the league in field goals made in clutch situations. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the second year in a row.

In the 2025 playoffs, Jalen led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals. This was the first time the Knicks reached this stage since 2000. He set new franchise records for 40-point and 30-point playoff games. He joined legends like Michael Jordan and LeBron James with multiple 35-point, 10-assist playoff games.

NBA Champion and Finals MVP

Jalen had an incredible 2025–2026 season. He was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December 2025. He scored a season-high 47 points at Madison Square Garden. On January 19, 2026, Jalen earned his third straight NBA All-Star selection. He was a starter for the second time. On January 30, he reached 10,000 career points.

Jalen led the Knicks to a 53–29 record and the third seed in the Eastern Conference. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the third consecutive season. In the NBA Cup tournament, Jalen led the Knicks to victory. He scored 25 points in the final and was named the NBA Cup MVP.

In the 2026 playoffs, Jalen led the Knicks to sweep the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals. He was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP. This led the Knicks to their first NBA Finals appearance since 1999.

In the NBA Finals, Jalen continued his amazing play. He scored 30 points in Game 1, helping the Knicks win. In Game 4, he scored 36 points as the Knicks made the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The Knicks won the championship in Game 5, with Jalen scoring 45 points. This secured the Knicks' first NBA championship in 53 years! Jalen was named the NBA Finals MVP. He joined a very small group of players who have won an NCAA championship, National Player of the Year, an NBA championship, and NBA Finals MVP.

Playing Style

Jalen Brunson is known for his excellent footwork on the court. He might not be the most athletic player, but he makes up for it with his smart plays. Jalen describes himself as a "hustle player." He is very good at drawing fouls from opponents. This means he often gets free throws, which helps his team score points. His style of play developed because he uses his strength and agility to overcome not being the tallest player.

National Team Career

Jalen has also proudly represented the USA National Team. In 2014, he was part of the team that won a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. He set a new record for assists in a single game during that tournament.

In 2015, Jalen was a member of the USA Basketball Men's U19 World Cup Team. He led the team with assists and steals. He scored 30 points in the semifinals and 14 points in the gold medal game. The team won the gold medal at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup. Jalen was named the MVP of the tournament. Because of his great performance, he was recognized as the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.

Jalen was also part of the United States national team for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The team finished fourth, but their performance helped the USA qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games.

Awards and Honors

NBA

NBA champion: 2026
NBA Finals MVP: 2026
3× NBA All-Star: 2024–2026
3× All-NBA Second Team: 2024–2026
NBA Cup champion: 2025
NBA Cup MVP: 2025
NBA Cup All-Tournament Team: 2025
NBA Eastern Conference Finals MVP: 2026
NBA Clutch Player of the Year: 2025

USA Basketball

USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year: 2015
FIBA Under-19 World Cup gold medalist: 2015
FIBA Under-19 World Cup MVP: 2015
FIBA Under-19 Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team: 2015
FIBA Americas U18 Championship gold medalist: 2014

NCAA

2× NCAA champion: 2016, 2018
National college player of the year: 2018
Consensus first-team All-American: 2018
Lute Olson Award: 2018
Bob Cousy Award: 2018
Second-team Academic All-American: 2018
Big East Player of the Year: 2018
2× First-team All-Big East: 2017, 2018
Big East All-Freshman Team: 2016
Robert V. Geasey Trophy winner: 2018
No. 1 retired by Villanova Wildcats

High School

First-team Parade All-American: 2015
Illinois Mr. Basketball: 2015

Career Statistics

NBA Performance Data

Regular Season Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2018–19	Dallas	73	38	21.8	.467	.348	.725	2.3	3.2	.5	.1	9.3
2019–20	Dallas	57	16	17.9	.466	.358	.813	2.4	3.3	.4	.1	8.2
2020–21	Dallas	68	12	25.0	.523	.405	.795	3.4	3.5	.5	.0	12.6
2021–22	Dallas	79	61	31.9	.502	.373	.840	3.9	4.8	.8	.0	16.3
2022–23	New York	68	68	35.0	.491	.416	.829	3.5	6.2	.9	.2	24.0
2023–24	New York	77	77	35.4	.479	.401	.847	3.6	6.7	.9	.2	28.7
2024–25	New York	65	65	35.4	.488	.383	.821	2.9	7.3	.9	.1	26.0
2025–26†	New York	74	74	35.0	.467	.369	.841	3.3	6.8	.8	.1	26.0
Career		561	411	30.0	.485	.385	.826	3.2	5.3	.7	.1	19.2
All-Star		3	2	17.4	.423	.353	—	2.3	4.0	1.3	.0	9.3

Playoff Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2021	Dallas	7	0	16.3	.455	.462	.749	2.6	1.4	.0	.0	8.0
2022	Dallas	18	18	35.0	.466	.347	.800	4.6	3.7	.8	.1	21.6
2023	New York	11	11	40.3	.474	.325	.912	4.9	5.6	1.5	.1	27.8
2024	New York	13	13	39.8	.444	.310	.775	3.3	7.5	.8	.2	32.4
2025	New York	18	18	37.8	.461	.358	.851	3.4	7.0	.4	.3	29.4
2026	New York	19	19	36.9	.465	.363	.846	3.2	6.1	1.2	.0	28.4
Career		86	79	35.9	.461	.347	.831	3.7	5.5	.8	.1	26.0

College Performance Data

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2015–16	Villanova	40	39	24.0	.452	.383	.774	1.8	2.5	.7	.0	9.6
2016–17	Villanova	36	36	31.1	.541	.378	.876	2.6	4.1	.9	.0	14.7
2017–18	Villanova	40	40	31.8	.521	.408	.802	3.1	4.6	.9	.0	18.9
Career		116	115	28.9	.510	.393	.820	2.5	3.7	.8	.0	14.4

Career Records and Achievements

NBA Records

Most single-game three-point shots without a miss (9, tied)
Most single-half three-point shots without a miss (8)
Consecutive playoff games with 40+ points/5+ assists (4)
Playoff scoring average minus regular season scoring average (6.8, min 50 playoff games, through 2026)

New York Knicks Records

Single-season 30-point games (36, tied)
Single-season 30-point point/assist double-doubles (6)
Single-game playoff points (47, April 28, 2024)
Single-half playoff points (28, May 14, 2024)
Career playoff 20-point halves (12 through 2024 playoffs)
First playoff 40-point point/assist double-double (April 28, 2024)
Career playoff 40-points games with the Knicks (9)
Career playoff 35-point games with the Knicks (18)
Career playoff 30-points games with the Knicks (30)
Consecutive playoff 30-point point/assist double-doubles (2, April 25 & 28, 2024)
Consecutive playoff 30-point/5-assist games (5)
Consecutive 20-point playoff games (20)
NBA finals single-game points (45, 2026 game 5)
NBA finals single-series 30-point games (4, 2026)
NBA finals single-series average (32.6, 2026)
First 30+ point NBA Finals teammates (36 Brunson, 33 OG Anunoby 2026, game 4)

Personal Life and Interests

On September 21, 2022, Jalen Brunson announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, Ali Marks. They met in high school. The proposal happened at Stevenson High School's gymnasium. This was after Jalen was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame.

On July 29, 2023, Jalen and Ali were married at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago. Many of his current and former teammates attended the wedding. In August 2024, the couple shared the happy news of their first child's birth on July 31.

Jalen is good friends with his New York Knicks teammate Josh Hart. They were also teammates at Villanova. Jalen and Josh even have a podcast together called Roommates. His maternal grandparents were both born in Jamaica, so Jalen has Jamaican descent.

Images for kids

Brunson with the New York Knicks in 2023
Brunson shooting in the 2013 IHSA Class 4A championship game
Brunson in the 2014 IHSA Class 4A consolation game
Brunson scoring the first 3 of his IHSA Class 4A title game record 30 points in 2015
Brunson in the 2015 McDonald's All-American Game
Brunson for the 2016–17 Villanova Wildcats
Eric Paschall, Donte DiVincenzo, Omari Spellman, Collin Gillespie and Jalen Brunson.
Brunson takes a layup with the Dallas Mavericks in a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2021
Brunson in 2023
Brunson at the 2015 McDonald's All American game