• Faith: Christian
• Career: Athlete
• Birthday:  August 31, 1996

Jalen Brunson is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the New York Knicks. He joined the Knicks before the 2022-23 season, signing as a free agent. He previously played for the Dallas Mavericks, who had drafted him after his junior year at Villanova University. He is the son of Rick Brunson, a former NBA player and currently assistant coach of the Knicks, and Sandra Brunson.

Brunson attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois, outside Chicago. He led Stevenson to the state Class 4A final as a sophomore and the semifinals as a junior, losing each time to schools from Chicago. As a senior, he led Stevenson to its first state championship with 30 points, a Class 4A state-record total in the title game. He was named Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year for both his junior and senior seasons, and was named Illinois Mr. Basketball as a senior.

After high school, Brunson attended Villanova University in Philadelphia. As a freshman, he helped lead Villanova to its first national championship in 31 years. He was named a unanimous selection to the Big East All-Freshman team, and was a starter for the championship game win over North Carolina. As a sophomore, Brunson was named to the All-Big East first team. He returned to Villanova for his junior season, in which he again helped lead the Wildcats to a national championship. He was also named Big East Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a junior. He was also awarded the consensus National Player of the Year in 2017-18, winning the Wooden Award, Naismith Award, and AP Player of the Year, among others. Following that season, Brunson declared that he was entering the NBA draft.

He was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and spent four years with the team. By the 2021-22 season, he was starting at point guard and reached career highs in most statistical categories. His success continued in the playoffs, helping the Mavericks defeat Utah in the first round. With Luka Doncic, the team's other star player, sidelined with an injury, Brunson stepped up with 41 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists in a win in game 2 of that series. He also scored 24 points and added 6 rebounds in a Game 7 win over Phoenix in the second round of the playoffs, helping Dallas to reach the Western Conference Finals.

Following that season, Brunson was a free agent. His father, Rick, was signed by the Knicks as an assistant coach in early June. On July 12, Jalen signed a 4-year contract with the Knicks. Over the past four seasons, Brunson has served as the on-court leader for the Knicks and was named team captain before the 2024-25 season. He has led the Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals twice, including this season (2025-26).

Jalen Brunson's Religious Beliefs

Jalen Brunson does not speak publicly about his religious faith very often, but it is clear that he is a man of faith. He attends chapel services with his teammates and has acknowledged God as the source of his talents: "I use what God has given me." More importantly, his charitable work reflects his Christian values. His foundation, the Second Round Foundation, helps support young people "through education, sport, and community." The Foundation supports Covenant House, which provides medical, educational, and vocational support to young people experiencing homelessness.

Jalen Brunson is a hard-working, humble man who acknowledges God's gifts to him and who seeks to reflect his faith in tangible ways. While he may not often speak publicly about his faith, he obviously lives it in many ways.