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Who is Sandra Brunson? Meet Jalen Brunson's mom, formerly an athlete

TUKO Wire source Monday, August 24, 2026

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Who is Sandra Brunson? Meet Jalen Brunson's mom, formerly an athlete — Entertainment · The Horizon Wire

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

Sandra Brunson is far more than a famous son's mother. A former Division I volleyball player, litigation professional, and co-founder of the Second Round Foundation, she has been the quiet architect behind Jalen Brunson's rise from second-round NBA pick to 2026 Finals MVP. Sandra Brunson's career spans law, business, and community impact — and her influence on the New York Knicks star is impossible to overstate.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

- Sandra Brunson (née Davis) grew up in Lakeview, New York, and attended Malverne High School from 1987 to 1991.

- She earned a bachelor's degree in business law with a minor in real estate from Temple University, where she was a Division I volleyball player.

- Sandra is co-founder and CFO of the Second Round Foundation, a youth-focused nonprofit she launched with Jalen in 2022.

- Her parents, Sankey and Judith Davis, were both born in Jamaica, giving Jalen his Jamaican heritage.

- She is married to Rick Brunson, a former NBA player and current New York Knicks assistant coach.

Sandra Brunson profile summary

Full name | Sandra Brunson (née Davis) |

Birthdate | 9 August (year not publicly confirmed) |

Birthplace | Lakeview, New York, USA |

Ethnicity | African American with Jamaican heritage |

Parents | Sankey Davis and Judith Davis (both Jamaican-born) |

Education | Bachelor's degree in business law, Temple University |

Sport | Division I volleyball, Temple University |

Husband | Rick Brunson (married, current Knicks assistant coach) |

Children | Jalen Brunson (NBA player), Erica Brunson |

Profession | Litigation support professional; businesswoman |

Foundation role | Co-founder and CFO, Second Round Foundation |

Business role | President, JMB1 Enterprises LLC |

Sandra Brunson's early life and career

Sandra Davis attended Malverne High School from 1987 to 1991, where she played both basketball and volleyball. A native of Lakeview, NY, she earned her bachelor's degree in business law with a minor in real estate from Temple University, where she was also a standout student-athlete, competing in Division I volleyball.

Her time in Philadelphia shaped her in ways that would define her family's future. Sandra was a Division I volleyball player, as well as a teammate and roommate of Kobe Bryant's sister, Sharia Washington (née Bryant), at Temple University, where she met Rick Brunson.

What volleyball taught her

"It taught me a lot about myself. It really opened my eyes to possibilities."

Sandra credited the sport with showing her what she was capable of, and she continued to pour into her son even after he wasn't drafted until the second round of the 2018 NBA draft, taken 33rd by the Dallas Mavericks.

Sandra Brunson's career in law and business

Sandra's professional career began at a major New York City law firm, where she developed a strong foundation in corporate law. With over 30 years of experience in litigation support, project management, and strategic partnerships, Sandra brings a depth of operational and leadership expertise to her work.

She is also president of JMB1 Enterprises, a sign she continues to handle the business side of the family's ventures.

Is Sandra Brunson's ethnicity Jamaican?

Jalen comes from a diverse background: his father was born in Syracuse, New York, while his mother has Jamaican roots. Sandra is from New York, but both her parents were born in Jamaica.

At Team Jamaica Bickle's Labour of Love Luncheon, Sandra served as keynote speaker, delivering a powerful tribute to her heritage and the values instilled in her by her Jamaican parents, Sankey and Judith Davis. She told the packed house:

"Being the daughter of Jamaican parents is one of the greatest sources of pride in my life," she shared, adding that it is "a heritage rooted in strength, resilience."

Sandra was born to Jamaican parents from St. Ann and Mandeville, and Jalen has long embraced his Caribbean heritage. That connection is reflected in the Second Round Foundation's support for Team Jamaica Bickle, linking the family's philanthropic work to empowering Caribbean student-athletes.

Sandra Brunson's ethnicity

Sandra is African American with Jamaican roots. Rick, Jalen's father, is white American. This mixed heritage is something the Brunson family has spoken about openly and with pride.

Is Sandra Brunson still married?

Yes — Sandra Brunson is married to Rick Brunson, a basketball coach and former NBA player. The couple met at Temple University when both were student athletes. Due to Rick's basketball career, the Brunson family moved frequently before settling in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Despite the changes, Sandra remained a constant source of love and stability for Jalen and Erica.

Rick is now an assistant coach on the Knicks bench, coaching their son. Fans also know the story of Rick Brunson, who is a current Knicks assistant coach and was a bench player on the late 1990s Knicks.

Sandra Brunson's role in Jalen's upbringing

Sandra's mothering was intentional and methodical. It started around Jalen's sophomore year in high school. She began giving him devotionals or little notes — taping them to the mirror in the bathroom, taping them to the fridge, and putting them in his lunch bag.

Sandra also started texting him before each game, to give him words of encouragement and put what he was doing in perspective: "It's a big game, but it's not the end of the world. It's basketball."

Jalen has spoken directly about her role in shaping him. As he told People in a May 2020 interview:

"Obviously my dad handled the basketball portion of it... But my mom handled, legit, everything else. She was the general. She held me accountable for everything I did."

Jalen credits his mother with instilling the value of academics, enabling him to graduate from Villanova University in just three years.

Her message on leadership

Sandra has spoken clearly about what she told her son as he became a team leader. As she told CBS Mornings:

"I told him, as a leader, he has to understand that everyone has a job to do. And every one of his teammates has to feel comfortable in their role and believe in their role, no matter what it is."

The Second Round Foundation

Sandra explained to CBS Mornings: "The Second Round Foundation was born out of Jalen's journey. He was the 33rd pick in the NBA draft — the 33rd pick is in the second round. I wanted him to understand that just because he wasn't viewed as a top 10 pick in the NBA didn't mean that he couldn't succeed."

The foundation's guiding mantra is Jalen's motto: "The Magic Is In the Work." Its mission is to ensure that young people who are under-resourced, under-represented, and underestimated have the tools, guidance, and belief they need to achieve their dreams.

Sandra's role within the foundation

Sandra Brunson is the co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of the Second Round Foundation, a role that reflects her commitment to creating meaningful, long-term impact in under-resourced communities. She helped establish the foundation to advance a vision centred on expanding access, opportunity, and equity for young people.

Sandra was also honoured for her leadership at NBA All-Star Weekend, where she received the All-Star Award at a special event hosted by Courtside Moms Media Productions — a recognition of nonprofit organisations founded and led by mothers within the basketball community.