New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson continues to balance his high-stakes professional basketball career with his personal life alongside his wife, Dr. Ali Marks Brunson, and their young daughter in New York.
The 29-year-old NBA All-Star, who signed a four-year contract worth $104 million with the Knicks, maintains a strict boundary between his athletic commitments and his home environment.
From High School Sweethearts to Lifelong Partners
The couple originally met as high school students at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois.
They officially began dating on October 27, 2013, during their senior year.
Despite attending different universities—Jalen won two national championships at Villanova University while Ali studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign—they maintained their relationship over a long distance.
During a December episode of the Roommates Show podcast, Jalen reflected on their initial meeting.
He noted his wife's humorous reaction to his junior varsity status at the time.
"She's like, 'Oh, you're on JV,'" Jalen said.
He added that when he corrected her about his actual position, she dismissed him and walked away for about two years.
Dr. Ali Brunson, who completed her doctorate in physical therapy from Northwestern University in 2021 and founded the AMB Method, clarified that they were friends before transitioning into a romantic relationship.
"We were friends for a couple years," she said.
She recalled her initial hesitation about their future as they prepared to attend separate colleges in different states.
"I didn't want to date," she said, adding, "Long distance is hard."
A turning point occurred when they attended the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago together. Ali recalled, "We were like, 'Let's stay together forever.'"
Jalen jokingly disputed the exact wording but acknowledged it makes a good story.
Marriage, Parenthood, and Keeping Basketball at the Arena
Following Jalen's induction into their high school's athletic hall of fame, he proposed on their former high school gymnasium court in September 2022.
The couple married at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago on July 29, 2023.
Speaking to People at the time, Jalen expressed gratitude for Ali's long-term support. "She's always been by my side, and I'm lucky to have her," he said.
Ali shared that they wanted their wedding reception to be a big, celebratory party with lights, lasers, a fun DJ, good food, and good drinks.
She later changed into her original high school prom dress for the event.
The couple welcomed their daughter, Jordyn James Brunson, on July 31, 2024.
They named her in honor of Ali's late father, James Marks, who died of pancreatic cancer in 2010.
Jalen was named captain of the New York Knicks just days after his daughter was born.
Ali, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, told People that Jordyn recognizes the Knicks brand.
"Jordyn sees blue/orange or photos of the Knicks logo and automatically says, 'Dada!'" she said.
Ali described her daughter's enthusiasm when watching basketball games and highlights of Jalen.
"She will cheer when someone scores a basket and loves watching highlights of Jalen," she said, noting that Jordyn understands some aspects of the sport despite her young age.
Ali emphasized that Jalen prioritizes his role as a husband and father, ensuring professional basketball pressure does not impact their home life.
"He comes home, and he is my husband, or the father to my child," she said.
She noted that their domestic life remains separate from his professional career.
"He keeps personal life in the house and basketball doesn't really come in, that's not really our conversation," Ali said.
"Good game, bad game, he leaves it at the arena when he comes home. That's how we separate things.
And that's how we keep our relationship super personal."
