KW

In a letter to her son, Jalen, Sandra Brunson expresses her pride: “I know that as soon as the season starts, you’re going to be focused on bringing Knicks fans another championship. But you’re still my baby boy, so you still have to listen to me. And I’m pulling the Mom Card on this one, and demanding that you let yourself enjoy the moment tonight. This is NOT just another game day…... which is why I’m not just sending you another pregame text. Today, you get this letter. Because tonight, you’ll be playing basketball for the first time as an NBA champion. And I’m so, so, so proud of you. It’s funny, but I remember when you signed with the Knicks, one of the things that people would say about you is that you were some kind of “nepo baby.” (I told you, Mama Bear kept receipts!) That somehow your dad had gotten you a job with the team. And I always thought that it was ironic in a way. Because the truth is, for all the fond memories I have of the Garden, and of your dad’s time there….. I won’t lie: That was a stressful time. I won’t try to claim we were struggling. We were very fortunate, and had a lot more than most. But being a journeyman, or the family of a journeyman, is not an easy basketball life. You’re living contract to contract … you’re moving around constantly … you’re spending months apart … there are just so many little uncertainties that come with trying to make it on the margins of the league. So when I said that I was ‘nervous’ in the Knicks’ family room back then, I wasn’t joking! We were never anywhere long enough to not feel nervous. But if there’s a silver lining to life on the margins, it’s that you find out who people really are … because there’s less for them to gain from treating you well. And there were so many people in New York who treated us well. Treated us like family, to be honest. We walked into that family room, and you might as well have been the son of the franchise player! Like, I swear … not once did I have to show a credential when I was there with you. There was genuine kindness for us. And I’ll tell you something about being a mom….. When someone shows kindness to your kid? You never forget it. So it’s hard for me to even put in words, Jalen, how gratifying it’s been to watch as you’ve come into full bloom over these last few years. And how meaningful it is to me that you’ve done it in that building, with that team, for that city.” playerstribu.ne/Brunson @jalenbrunson1 | @nyknicks | @NovaMBB