Jalen Brunson has been making waves this season with his stellar performance each night. While he has achieved a substantial amount of success in the league, this journey to stardom was far from smooth sailing. Despite reservations surrounding his small stature, he sneaked into the league as a second-round pick when the Dallas Mavericks selected him as the 33rd overall pick in 2018.

After years of working in shadows, he managed to silence all the doubts after he transformed himself from a benchwarmer to a franchise-leading superstar. However, much of his success can be attributed to the guidance and mentorship of his father, Rick Brunson.

Rick Brunson’s role in shaping JB’s career

JB’s father, Rick Brunson, had been in the league for nine seasons. These nine seasons were not easy by any means. He had to earn his way through eight contracts—all of them non-guaranteed- throughout his NBA career. Having experienced it firsthand, Rick knew how much grit and hard work it took to survive in the league. Beyond Jalen’s skills and individual efforts, it was Rick’s tough love that instilled in him the work ethic and determination to dominate during games. “He pushed me. He always wanted to see how far I can take my limits. Every day before and after workout, he would say, ‘Is this what you wanna do for a living? Whether I was crying, whether I was happy, whether I was pis**d off at him. Whatever. The answer was always yes,” divulged JB in the recent episode of Pass the Rock.

Having grown up running down the NBA courts and circling the locker room, he was aware of what it would take to succeed, and he embraced it fully. After an excellent collegiate career, which included two NCAA titles, he entered the NBA draft after his junior season. After joining the Dallas Mavericks, it wouldn’t be until his fourth season that he would come into the NBA spotlight. Luka Doncic was down with a calf injury when Brunson stepped up and chipped in 41 points to lead the Mavericks to a 110-104 win over the Jazz in Game 2 of their first-round series.

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Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson Gives a Sneak Peak to His Basketball Genius: “I Always Have a Plan..”

Despite his brilliance, he was not offered a deal with the Mavericks. And it turned out to be the best thing for his career. The following season, he signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the New York Knicks. Initially seen as a risky investment, he demonstrated his worth by revitalizing the Knicks and establishing himself as the cornerstone player around whom they would build.

In just one and a half seasons in the Big Apple, he has turned them into legit contenders for the first time in nearly two decades. He has been on a scoring tear this season, posting 27.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game. And then, finally, after six seasons, he got his first All-Star nod. His father, who has been by his side through it all, paid a touching tribute following his All-Star selection. “There were times when you wanted to be like me. And now at this point, I wish I could be like you,” said Rick Brunson.