Jalen Brunson family tree: How Knicks guard, assistant coach have ideal son-father relationship

Every time Jalen Brunson takes the floor, his father has a very good view.

That's not because Rick Brunson always buys good tickets. It's because he's on the New York Knicks bench watching the team's star point guard play.

It's a wonderful perspective for Rick, who himself is a former NBA player.

And in the playoffs, when the lights shine even brighter, Jalen and Rick Brunson know they can count on one another.

Who is Jalen Brunson's father?

Knicks guard Jalen Brunson's father is Rick Brunson.

Rick Brunson is a current New York Knicks assistant coach.

Rick played his college basketball at Temple, then lasted nine years in the NBA for eight teams.

He spent parts of three NBA seasons with the Knicks.

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Who is Jalen Brunson's mother?

Jalen Brunson's mom is Sandra Brunson.

Sandra and Rick met at Temple. Sandra was a volleyball player.

They have Jalen and one younger sister, Erica.

Jalen Brunson's family contribution to his NBA career

When Jalen Brunson was growing up, he often heard his parents say, "The magic is in the work," according to People.

That makes a lot of sense for a point guard with a high basketball IQ whose father went into coaching.

"They had it on the wall, in my mirror when I woke up," Brunson said. "They had it in my lunch bag for school. They just made sure I saw that quote."

Rick also used his NBA experience to tutor Jalen.

"He also always used to say, 'If a teacher gave you a study guide for a test, you'd take the study guide, prepare and take the test,'" Jalen told CBS. "'Well I am the study guide. I have taken the test. You going to listen to me or not?'"

Jalen took a while to accept that advice, saying that as a kid, he was "annoyed that he's right all the time." Now? "But he's right."

Jalen's mother was crucial, too.

"She was the general," he said. "She held me accountable for everything I did. If I was putting my mind to something I couldn’t quit until it was done. She basically gave me that no-quit mentally."

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