Jalen Brunson is centering financial literacy and education in his philanthropic efforts.

Brunson is an NBA player who was selected 33rd overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 draft, per Basketball Reference. He credits his parents for shaping his spending habits at a young age, in conversation with AFROTECH™. So when he signed his rookie contract, valued at $6.11 million over four years, according to Spotrac, he had the foundation to manage his money responsibly.

“Once I got into the league, you’re given a lot more money. You obviously worked hard for it, but now you are responsible for making responsible decisions. It’s a whole different animal, but the principles are still the same,” Brunson, who now plays for the New York Knicks, told AFROTECH™.

Brunson credits his parents, agents, and financial team with challenging him and guiding him through strategic financial decisions. The byproduct of their support has led Brunson to pursue business moves such as his endorsement deal with BodyArmor and being a Nike athlete.

 

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JPMorganChase Athlete Council

Brunson is applying his lessons navigating the financial landscape of being a professional athlete to JPMorgan Chase, joining its athlete council led by chair Dwyane Wade and featuring A’ja Wilson, Tom Brady, Alex Morgan, and others. They will collaborate with leaders at the financial services firm to discuss the financial needs of athletes and to steer programs that will create better outcomes, providing greater support to from the early stages of their careers through retirement, according to JPMorgan Chase.

The athlete council has also committed to supporting more than 500,000 current and former athletes.

“I’m really, really happy to be involved. I think it’s important to help educate, and the best way to educate people is through experience,” Brunson explained. “So I feel like being around that group of people is going to help my development as well. I think it’s a win-win that I get to share my experience, but also learn from others.”

Second Round Foundation

Brunson’s education-focused efforts are also reflected in his Second Round Foundation, which has supported 30 graduating seniors from his alma mater, Stevenson High School. The foundation offers $50,000 in scholarships through the Jalen Brunson Patriot Pride Scholarship to students for their achievements in athletics, leadership, and DEI, according to information shared with AFROTECH™.

The 2025 scholarship winners were Nathan Fierer, Nishali Musunuri, Rajan Sukhatme, Zach Hersh, and Ria Prathinidhi, according to Brunson’s LinkedIn.

“It’s important for me to give back. I think being able to do that at a school that has helped shaped me. It’s a great feeling and I’ve always been a person to want to give back regardless of what I do or what I’ve done, what I accomplished, just ’cause that’s how I was brought up … I just think helping others and helping the future is the best way to make this world a better place,” he expressed.

Continued Commitment To Education

In addition to his own work with Stevenson High School, Brunson has partnered with the Stevenson High School Foundation to further support its students. He committed nearly $300,000 to ensure financially under-resourced students and their families have access to information, tools, and resources through the Jalen Brunson Patriot Wellness Initiative, according to information on the foundation’s website.

The initiative has impacted more than 1,800 students and their families by offering access to healthy food, nutrition information, athletic wear, basic medical supplies, and other resources.

AT&T Partnership

While Brunson is in the NBA and giving back to his high school alma mater, he hasn’t forgotten about his college roots at Villanova University. Now, he is joining AT&T’s “The Connection Matters” campaign, which seeks to encourage meaningful connections through the sport, especially during March Madness, per information shared with AFROTECH™. The campaign will include six different national commercials featuring Burnson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Jose Alvarado, Candace Parker, and Jayson Tatum.

Brunson recounted his March Madness experience with the Villanova Wildcats team, which won two national championships.

“I think my March Madness experience was great. It was all one hell of a ride, and I loved every second of it. The connection I have with my school is something I do not take for granted. It’s something I always love and cherish. So I think it’s cool that’s [AT&T’s] campaign,” he said.