Knicks’ Jalen Brunson admits he took NBA life for granted growing up

Jalen Brunson is two wins away from leading the New York Knicks to their first championship since 1973, but a recent story from his childhood reminded fans how different his upbringing was from most aspiring NBA players.

The All-NBA guard grew up around the league thanks to his father, former NBA player Rick Brunson. As a result, encounters with basketball stars felt normal to him.

That perspective led to a memorable interaction with Michael Jordan.

Brunson explained that he and his mother had a tradition whenever they visited an opposing arena.

“Every away arena I got the home team’s jersey, just something me and my mom did,” Brunson said.

During a trip to Washington, Jordan was playing for the Wizards. After the game, Brunson visited his father’s locker room before meeting Jordan in the opposing locker room.

Jalen Brunson says Michael Jordan offered to autograph his jersey when he was 6, and he told MJ no

"every away arena I got the home team's jersey, just something me and my mom did. so we go to DC, Jordan was on the Wizards, and I had Jordan's jersey on"

"after the game I got to… pic.twitter.com/2Qxx1RKAxp

— Yonan (@yonann) June 7, 2026

Michael Jordan’s Offer

“After the game I got to go see my dad in the locker room, went to the other locker room with one of their coaches, and I met Michael,” Brunson recalled.

Jordan then offered to sign the jersey.

“He’s like, ‘You want me to sign your jersey?’ I said no, you’ll mess it up. I was dead serious.”

Looking back, Brunson admitted he did not appreciate how unique those experiences were.

“I’m growing up in the NBA, seeing all these players all the time, taking it for granted,” he said. “I had no signatures, nothing. I was like, I don’t need signatures, I’m good. Don’t mess my jersey up, MJ.”

Years later, Brunson has become a star in his own right. As the Knicks prepare for Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the point guard now occupies the same spotlight once held by the player whose autograph he famously turned down.

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