King of the New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Has a Jewish Love Story

The Knicks’ point guard Jalen Brunson has already been anointed the king of New York City — and now he’s captured the hearts of the city’s Jewish community, amid new details of his embrace of his Jewish wife’s religious traditions.Mr. Brunson, who helped usher the Knicks to their first NBA championship in more than 50 years, married his high school sweetheart, Ali Marks-Brunson, in 2023. The pair began dating in high school and continued their relationship long distance while Mr. Brunson played basketball for Villanova University and Mrs. Brunson attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She went on to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in 2021.Mrs. Brunson was raised in a Jewish household, and her religious heritage was on full display when the couple wed in July 2023. A video of the nuptials shows the Brunsons marrying under a traditional wedding canopy, signing a Jewish marriage contract known as a Ketubah, stomping on a glass, dancing the hora, and dining on challah at the reception.“She’s sacrificed a lot, without really knowing what’s in it for her,” Mr. Brunson said in their wedding video. “She was committed. She wanted the best for myself, and sometimes it felt like she wanted the best for me before her… she’s pushed me to be better.” Mrs. Brunson works as a physical therapist and runs her own clinic in New York. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Jordyn, in the summer of 2024. Her middle name, James, honors Mrs. Brunson’s late father — a reflection of the Ashkenazi Jewish tradition of naming children after deceased relatives, Kveller reported. The Jewish community is smitten. “Well if you doubted there is a hashem my fellow Jews @jalenbrunson1 is mvp and married to a Jew! His daughter a Jew! Plus both from Jersey it helps! Go nicks!!” declared the Jewish reality TV personality Patti Stanger. “If you need another reason to love Jalen Brunson, he married a nice Jewish girl!” wrote a Jewish attorney, @HowardA_AtLaw, on X. The Brunsons’ wedding also surfaced during Mrs. Brunson’s game-day ritual throughout the Knicks’ championship run. She told E! News that she wore her wedding jewelry during “every game,” a tradition she said kept her “sane.” Her lucky charm appeared to be in full force Saturday when the Knicks captured a 95-94 victory in Game 5, closing out the San Antonio Spurs four games to one.Mr. Brunson, the team’s captain, was named the Bill Russell Finals MVP for his efforts throughout the championship. He scored 45 of the team’s points during Saturday’s clincher, bringing his series average to 32.6 points per game. He celebrated the achievement on the court with his father, Rick Brunson, a former Knick and current assistant coach.

King of the New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Has a Jewish Love Story

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