Jalen Brunson is almost too good to be true. It’s a chapter out of a fictional storybook. Only three years ago, he was a measly bench player for the Dallas Mavericks. However, his work ethic is persistent. Brunson’s undying resolve to keep working saw him have that one wonder season. He broke out in 2022. From there he earned himself the keys to the Knicks franchise that offseason. Today, he is one of the best point guards in the league.

Brunson didn’t have the hype of a Luka Doncic or Victor Wembanyama. It has been the same story since college. He resonates with being the underdog so much so that he began a charity around it – The Second Round Foundation. During an appearance  on the Jimmy Fallon show, Brunson went into detail about his charity and what brought about the name.

Jalen Brunson being overlooked gave rise to his charity

As a star in New York does, Brunson earned himself a call-up to the popular Tonight Show with loveable host Jimmy Fallon. After a brief discussion of his injury and his career, Fallon asked him about his charity, the Second Round Foundation. Launched in October of 2022, the foundation aims to inspire. The basis behind it is Brunson’s own story.

“I used the Second Round name to kind of use the term of being overlooked. Like in college, we won two championships. I won a number of accolades. I couldn’t do any more to get higher in the draft or where I should be. But I was overlooked. Same thing in high school, I was overlooked,” Brunson explained.

For the New York Knicks starlet, his journey has always been about outworking others. Staying true to his formula and eventually making people realize he is special. That’s the message Jalen Brunson wants to send with his Second Round Foundation. No matter what the obstacles and challenges, never stop believing.

“I want people and the people who are involved with it to understand like hey, no matter if you’re overlooked, no matter what people say about you, think about you, your mindset, your work ethic, everything you put into what you want to do and what you want to be great at is key to everything,” he told Fallon.

Coming out of Villanova, Brunson had led his college team to two state titles. In 2018, he led the Wildcats in scoring while leading them to a second national title. He even won Consensus National Player of The Year. Despite the trunk full of achievements, he fell to the second round and was picked 33rd overall in the draft.

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For three years he was the Sixth Man on the Mavericks averaging 12 points at his best. But when he finally got the opportunity to do something bigger, Jalen Brunson was ready. In the 2021 postseason, he put up majestic performances and was the ideal counterpart for Doncic. He averaged 21.6 in that postseason which paved the way for his massive deal with the Knicks in the following offseason.

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Today, he is arguably the best guard in the East. New York loves him and he is the essence of the Knicks. The message he wants to send with his charity is just that. It will all come full circle, just never stop working.