Jalen Brunson is a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on August 31, 1996. Jalen was picked by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA draft. He played his first four seasons with them.

Before joining the NBA, Jalen played college basketball for the Villanova Wildcats. He was named the best college player in the country in 2018. He also helped his team win two national championships.

Jalen was a top high school player. He played in famous games like the 2015 McDonald's All-American Boys Game. He led his high school, Stevenson, to a state championship. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2015 FIBA Under-19 World Cup.

After playing for the Dallas Mavericks, Jalen joined the New York Knicks in 2022. With the Knicks, he became an NBA All-Star and was chosen for the All-NBA Second Team in 2024 and 2025. He set an NBA record by making 8 three-point shots in a half without missing. He also tied an NBA record by making 9 three-point shots in a game without missing. In 2025, he led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in 25 years.

Early Life and Family

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 Brunson also played basketball in the NBA for nine seasons. Sandra played volleyball in college.

Jalen has a sister named Erica. His family moved many times before settling in Lincolnshire, Illinois in 2010. This is where Jalen played high school basketball. When he was young, Jalen often visited NBA locker rooms because of his dad.

High School Basketball Career

Brunson shooting in a 2013 championship game

As a freshman in 2012, Jalen was recognized as a top player in his county. His team, Stevenson High School, had a good record of 17 wins and 11 losses.

During his sophomore year, Stevenson went on a 19-game winning streak. Jalen led his team to the 2013 state championship game. They played against a strong team that had won three state titles in a row. Stevenson lost that game, but Jalen was still named to the All-state second team. He was the only sophomore on that team. He averaged 21.5 points per game that season.

Brunson playing in a 2014 state playoff game

In 2014, as a junior, Jalen scored an amazing 57 points in one game. This set a new school record for points in a single game and for his career. He also scored 56 points in a state playoff semi-final game. Jalen averaged 26.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.9 steals that season. He was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois.

Jalen was a highly sought-after player for college. Many top universities wanted him to play for their basketball teams. In September 2014, Jalen decided to commit to Villanova University. At that time, he was ranked as the number one point guard in his class.

Brunson scoring in the 2015 state championship game

In his senior year, Jalen led Stevenson to the state championship game for the third year in a row. This time, they won! Stevenson became the first school from Lake County to win a state basketball championship. Jalen scored 30 points in the final game, which was a record for that championship. He was named Illinois Mr. Basketball for 2015.

Jalen finished his senior year averaging 23.3 points, 5.2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds per game. He was also named a first-team Parade All-American.

College Basketball Career

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

Freshman Year (2015-2016)

Jalen Brunson started his college career at Villanova in the 2015-2016 season. He was expected to be one of the best freshmen in the Big East Conference. He started in his very first game, scoring 12 points.

Villanova's team became the number one ranked team in the country during this season. Jalen was a key player. In the 2016 NCAA Tournament, he helped the Wildcats win the national championship game against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Sophomore Year (2016-2017)

As a sophomore, Jalen continued to improve. He was named to the preseason All-Big East team. Villanova again reached the top spot in the national rankings.

Jalen scored a career-high 27 points in a game against Creighton. He was named Big East Player of the Week for his strong performances. After the season, he was chosen for the All-Big East first team. He averaged 14.7 points and 4.1 assists per game.

Junior Year (2017-2018)

Jalen Brunson (far right) with his Villanova teammates after winning the 2018 NCAA Championship.

Jalen's junior year was outstanding. He was named the preseason Big East Player of the Year. He also earned preseason All-American honors. He led Villanova to win the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament and was named the MVP.

He scored a career-high 31 points three times during the season. Jalen was recognized for his excellent play and his strong academic performance. He was named a finalist for many national awards.

After the regular season, Jalen was named the Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year. He was also named the best college player in the country, winning awards like the Naismith College Player of the Year and the John R. Wooden Award. He was a consensus first-team All-American.

Jalen led Villanova to win their second national championship in three years in the 2018 NCAA Tournament. After this amazing season, he decided to enter the NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Dallas Mavericks (2018–2022)

Brunson taking a shot for the Dallas Mavericks in 2021

The Dallas Mavericks drafted Jalen Brunson with the 33rd pick in the 2018 NBA draft. He signed a four-year contract. He made his NBA debut in October 2018.

Jalen started some games when other players were injured. He set new career highs in points and assists during his rookie season. In the 2020-2021 season, he averaged career highs in points, rebounds, and assists. He finished fourth in voting for the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award, which is given to the best player who usually comes off the bench.

In the 2021-2022 season, Jalen became a regular starter for the Mavericks. He continued to improve his stats. He had a breakout performance in the playoffs. In Game 2 of the first round, he scored a career-high 41 points against the Utah Jazz. He helped the Mavericks reach the Western Conference Finals.

New York Knicks (2022–Present)

Becoming a Star (2022–2023)

In July 2022, Jalen Brunson signed a four-year contract with the New York Knicks. His father, Rick Brunson, also joined the Knicks as an assistant coach.

Jalen made his Knicks debut in October 2022. He quickly became a key player for the team. In January 2023, he scored a career-high 44 points in a game. He was named NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first time. He had a streak of eight straight games scoring 25 points or more.

In February 2023, Villanova University retired his jersey number, honoring his college achievements. Jalen continued to play exceptionally well, earning the NBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month award for February. He scored a new career-high of 48 points in March 2023. In the 2023 NBA Playoffs, he helped the Knicks reach the Eastern Conference Semifinals. He scored 41 points in a playoff game, showing his leadership.

All-Star and All-NBA Appearances (2023–2024)

Brunson in 2023

Jalen continued his strong play in the 2023-2024 season. He earned his second NBA Player of the Week award in November 2023. On December 15, he scored a new career-high of 50 points against the Phoenix Suns. He made all 9 of his three-point shots in that game, tying an NBA record. He also became the first NBA player to score 50 points without missing a three-point shot (with at least 8 attempts).

In January 2024, Jalen was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career. He had a fantastic month, leading the Knicks to a 4-0 record in one week. He also had five straight games scoring 30 points or more.

On March 29, 2024, 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 scoring 30 points or more, tying a Knicks record. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team for the first time.

In the 2024 NBA Playoffs, Jalen set a Knicks single-game playoff record by scoring 47 points against the Philadelphia 76ers. He became the first Knick to score 40 points with 10 assists in a playoff game. He also became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1989 to end a playoff series with three straight 40-point games. In the next round, he scored 40+ points in four consecutive playoff games, a rare feat in NBA history. The Knicks were eliminated in seven games, and Jalen fractured his left hand in the final game.

Clutch Player of the Year (2024–2025)

In July 2024, Jalen signed a contract extension with the Knicks. In August 2024, he was named the 36th captain in Knicks history.

On December 28, 2024, Jalen scored 55 points in an overtime win against the Washington Wizards. On January 25, 2025, he was named an Eastern Conference starter for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.

On April 23, 2025, Jalen was named the NBA Clutch Player of the Year. This award goes to the player who performs best in important, close game situations. He led the league in field goals made in "clutch" moments. He was also named to the All-NBA Second Team for the second year in a row.

In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Jalen continued to shine. He scored 40 points and hit the game-winning shot in a series-clinching victory against the Detroit Pistons. He set a Knicks record for most 40-point playoff games (8) and most 30-point playoff games (19). He also joined Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as the only players in NBA history to have 10 games with at least 30 points and 5 assists in a single playoff run. The Knicks reached the Eastern Conference Finals but lost in six games.

Playing Style

Jalen Brunson is known for his excellent footwork on the court. He is a "hustle player" who works very hard. He is good at drawing fouls from opponents, which means he often gets free throws. His playing style relies on his strength and quickness, making up for not being the tallest player.

National Team Career

Jalen has also played for USA Basketball. In 2014, he was part of the USA national team for the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship. He set a new record for assists in a single game for the U18 team, helping the United States win a gold medal.

In 2015, Jalen was a member of the USA Basketball Men's U19 World Cup Team. He was named the MVP of the tournament. He led his team in assists and steals. He scored 30 points in the semi-finals and helped the team win the gold medal game. Because of his great performance, he was named the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year.

In 2023, Jalen played for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The team finished fourth, which helped secure a spot for the United States in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Personal Life

Jalen Brunson got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Ali Marks, in September 2022. They met in high school. They got married in July 2023. In August 2024, Jalen and Ali announced the birth of their first child.

Jalen is good friends with his New York Knicks teammate Josh Hart. They were also teammates at Villanova. They even have a podcast together called Roommates.

Career Statistics

NBA

Regular season

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
Career		487	337	29.2	.489	.389	.823	3.2	5.0	.7	.1	18.1
All-Star		2	1	12.8	.353	.231	—	2.0	4.0	1.0	.0	7.5

Playoffs

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
Career		67	60	35.6	.460	.342	.826	3.9	5.4	.7	.1	25.4

College

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

Records and Achievements

NBA Records

Most three-point shots made in a game without a miss (9, tied)
Most three-point shots made in a half without a miss (8)
Consecutive playoff games with 40+ points and 5+ assists (4)

New York Knicks Records

Most 30-point games in a single season (36, tied)
Most 30-point games with a double-double (points and assists) in a single season (6)
Most points in a single playoff game (47, April 28, 2024)
Most points in a single playoff half (28, May 14, 2024)
Most career 20-point halves in playoffs (12 through 2024 playoffs)
First player to have a 40-point playoff game with a double-double (points and assists) (April 28, 2024)
Most 40-point games in playoffs (8)
Most 30-point games in playoffs (19)
Consecutive playoff games with 30+ points and a double-double (2, April 25 & 28, 2024)
Consecutive playoff games with 30+ points and 5+ assists (5)
Consecutive 20-point playoff games (20)

Images for kids

Brunson at the 2015 McDonald's All American game

Jalen Brunson facts for kids

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