Jalen Brunson had one thing that backed him since the beginning: his family. It may sound like a generic statement, but the New York Knicks guard indeed had a special home to grow up and become one of the most celebrated ballers in the NBA world. Thanks to his parents, Rick and Sandra Brunson, who were professional athletes in their prime, for passing the sports gene to their elder son. Well, it’s not just parents who complete the family, but also a sibling, who stands up against basketball veterans for Brunson.

So before it’s too late, let us reveal that JB doesn’t have a brother, but has a sister, Erica Brunson. She is four years younger than the Knicks guard. And despite being the younger one, she never missed a chance to stand up for her brother. It must be surprising to read the previous line again after knowing Jalen had once referred to Erica as an “unwanted baby sister”. Well, it’s just out of playful sibling rivalry.

Back in 2020, Jalen Brunson penned a comically touching birthday note for his sister via IG. The post’s caption read, “The happiest of birthdays to my favorite and unwanted baby sister. I love you more than you can ever imagine.” The post carried pictures from the siblings’ childhood. JB indeed seems like a protective elder brother.

On the other hand, Erica had delivered her fair share of annoyance to Jalen in their childhood. Speaking to Dallas Morning News, she spilled a lot of beans. Firstly, she revealed that she’d put a ton of salt and pepper in her brother’s sandwich. And also, pulled his blanket and switched on the light whenever he was early to bed.

However, JB barely had any reaction, as she said, “I just wanted him to get up and do something, retaliate, but he would just sit there and wait for me to bring his covers back.” Apart from the playful sibling rivalry, JB’s parents, along with Erica, have contributed a lot to making Brunson into what he is today.

“The magic is in the work” – Jalen Brunson’s family motivation

Rick Brunson, a former NBA player, who has also had a stint with the Knicks, played an important role in injecting basketball into Bronson Jr’s mind. Rick has a 9-season-long NBA career between 1995-2006. During this period, the Brunson family had a tough time moving across the country, as Rick didn’t play for a franchise for more than one season. Nevertheless, the experiences gained during his professional career helped him shape his son into a superstar. Notably, JB went on to win the Naismith Player of the Year during college junior year, leading his team to the national championship.

Apart from that, Rick jumped into coaching after his playing days. After a brief stint in college, he picked up a pad to become an assistant coach in the NBA. After an elaborate stint with the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves, he joined the Knicks in 2022, working under HC Tom Thibodeau. While his son is the centerpiece of the NY side, Rick has two roles to play, one as a father and the other as a coach.

On the other end, Jalen’s mother, Sandra Brunson, a volleyball player, gave something more to her son. The mindset to achieve goals. Speaking to Slam, she said, “I told him it’s great to have goals and dreams, but let’s stick with realistic goals.” Well, Sandra’s advice made him achieve a realistic dream, to become an NBA superstar. Moreover, she had put motivational quotes all over the house to remind everyone of one thing: hard work.

Speaking of the motivational quotes, Brunson said, “They had it on the wall, in my mirror when I woke up They had it in my lunch bag for school. They just made sure I saw that quote… The magic is in the work.” The quote certainly worked like a charm.

Amid motivating parents, Jalen Brunson has a fierce sister

While his parents made sure that Brunson grew up and became what he wished for, Erica defended her brother whenever she could. Importantly, she didn’t bother whom she was standing against. For instance, former WNBA player Becky Hammon took a dig at JB on ESPN. She argued that the Knicks guard isn’t an A1 player, comparing him to LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Joel Embiid. She even added, “He’s too small. If your best player is small, you’re not winning.”

Erica remained patient following the dig but chose the right time to defend her brother. It was when her brother created franchise history, becoming the first Knicks player to drop 47 points in the first-round playoff game against the Philadelphia 76ers. Following the game, Erica took to her social media and wrote, “Seems pretty A1 to me,” retaliating Hammon’s take. This is just a single instance, and she has continued to stand up for her brother whenever required.

The bottom line is that Jalen Brunson had one thing that backed him since the beginning: his family. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.