Jalen Brunson’s wife is Ali Marks Brunson, a licensed physical therapist who has known the New York Knicks star since high school. The couple began dating in 2013, married in Chicago in July 2023, and welcomed their daughter, Jordyn James Brunson, in 2024.
Ali has built a professional identity separate from her husband’s basketball career. She holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University, has worked in clinical physical therapy, and now develops fitness and movement programs through the AMB Method.
Quick Facts About Ali Marks Brunson
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Alison “Ali” Marks Brunson |
| Known for | Wife of NBA player Jalen Brunson |
| Profession | Licensed physical therapist |
| Undergraduate education | University of Illinois, B.S. in Kinesiology |
| Graduate education | Doctor of Physical Therapy, Northwestern University |
| Husband | Jalen Brunson |
| Relationship began | 2013 |
| Wedding date | July 29, 2023 |
| Child | Jordyn James Brunson, born July 31, 2024 |
| Current professional work | Founder of the AMB Method; physical therapy and movement training |
| Community role | Board member, Second Round Foundation |
Ali’s education and current professional roles are confirmed by her official AMB Method profile and the Second Round Foundation. Her marriage and family timeline has also been documented by People.
Who Is Jalen Brunson’s Wife?
Ali Marks Brunson, whose full name is Alison Marks Brunson, is a physical therapist with a background in kinesiology, orthopedic rehabilitation, strength training, and movement education.
She attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign while Jalen Brunson studied and played basketball at Villanova University. According to the Second Round Foundation, Ali earned a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Illinois before completing her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Northwestern University.
That career path is important because Ali is sometimes described online mainly in relation to her famous husband. Her professional record shows a separate career in health and physical therapy that began before Brunson became one of the NBA’s most prominent players.
As of September 2026, her professional website identifies her as a licensed physical therapist and the creator of the AMB Method, which combines physical-therapy principles with strength and movement training.
How Did Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks Meet?
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks met while attending Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. They began dating in October 2013 and attended school events, including senior prom, together before graduating.
Their relationship then became long-distance.
Brunson went to Villanova, where he became one of the leading players in college basketball and won national championships in 2016 and 2018. Ali remained in Illinois for her undergraduate education before later studying physical therapy at Northwestern.
They stayed together as their careers developed in different places. Ali eventually moved to Dallas after completing her graduate education, during the period when Brunson was playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
Their relationship therefore predates Brunson’s NBA career, his move to the Knicks, and the level of national attention that followed his success in New York.
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks’ Engagement
Brunson proposed to Ali in September 2022, choosing a location closely connected to their history: their former high school gym.
The proposal took place on the basketball court at Stevenson High School. The court was decorated with flowers and candles, bringing the couple back to the place where they had known each other as teenagers.
The timing also marked a major transition in Brunson’s career. He had joined the New York Knicks in 2022 after spending his first four NBA seasons with Dallas. The Knicks officially announced his signing in July of that year.
When Did Jalen Brunson Get Married?
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks married on July 29, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago.
The city carried personal significance because both had strong ties to the Chicago area from their high school years. Friends, relatives and several of Brunson’s basketball teammates attended the celebration.
One of the more personal details from the reception was Ali’s decision to change into the dress she had worn to senior prom in 2015. The choice connected their wedding to the early years of their relationship rather than treating the event only as a celebrity or NBA wedding.
The couple had been together for nearly a decade by the time they married.
What Does Ali Marks Brunson Do for a Living?
Ali is a licensed physical therapist.
After earning her DPT from Northwestern University in 2021, she worked in clinical physical therapy. Her professional background includes orthopedic and sports-related rehabilitation, according to current professional profiles.
She has since expanded that experience into her own movement and training work.
Her official website says she developed the AMB Method after several years of clinical practice. The program uses physical-therapy-based principles alongside strength training, with an emphasis on stability, control and sustainable movement.
Her listed credentials also include Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist training and specialization in pregnancy and postpartum corrective exercise.
Ali is also listed as a board member of the Second Round Foundation, where her role focuses on health, wellness and opportunities for young people.
These activities make her professional background more substantial than the simple “NBA wife” description commonly attached to her name.
Do Jalen Brunson and His Wife Have Children?
Yes. Jalen and Ali Brunson have a daughter named Jordyn James Brunson, who was born on July 31, 2024.
The couple did not publicly announce the pregnancy beforehand. Brunson revealed Jordyn’s birth in August 2024, several weeks after she was born.
Since then, Ali and Jordyn have occasionally appeared at Knicks games and basketball-related events. People reported in 2026 that Jordyn had become part of the family’s game-day experience as Brunson’s profile in New York continued to grow.
As of September 2026, publicly available reporting identifies Jordyn as the couple’s only child.
Ali Brunson’s Role During Jalen’s Rise With the Knicks
Ali knew Brunson years before his NBA success, but his public profile has changed dramatically during their marriage.
The Knicks named him the 36th captain in franchise history in August 2024. Two years later, he helped New York win the 2026 NBA championship and received the Bill Russell Trophy as NBA Finals MVP after averaging 32.6 points in the championship series.
Ali has appeared with him at games, NBA events and public appearances, but she has continued her own professional work at the same time.
That distinction helps explain the search interest around Jalen Brunson’s wife. Their story is not a relationship that began after professional fame. Ali was part of Brunson’s life during high school, college, his early NBA years in Dallas and his rise in New York.
Ali Marks Brunson’s Charity and Community Work
Ali has also been involved in fundraising related to pancreatic cancer.
People reported that she ran endurance events in support of Project Purple, an organization connected to pancreatic cancer research and assistance. The cause has personal significance because her father died from pancreatic cancer.
Her current board position with the Second Round Foundation extends that community involvement into youth health and wellness. The foundation’s profile describes her as contributing professional knowledge related to physical health, resilience and access to resources.
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks Brunson Today
As of September 2026, Jalen and Ali Brunson have been together for almost 13 years and married for more than three.
Their lives now combine Brunson’s NBA career, parenthood and Ali’s work in physical therapy and movement training. Jalen’s basketball achievements have brought the family greater public attention, particularly after the Knicks’ 2026 championship, but Ali continues to maintain an independent professional career through physical therapy, the AMB Method and community work.
FAQs
Who is Jalen Brunson’s wife?
Jalen Brunson’s wife is Alison “Ali” Marks Brunson. She is a licensed physical therapist who met Brunson in high school. They began dating in 2013 and married on July 29, 2023.
Is Jalen Brunson’s wife a doctor?
Ali Marks Brunson holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University. She is a licensed physical therapist, not a medical doctor.
When did Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks get married?
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks married on July 29, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago after dating since high school.
Do Jalen Brunson and his wife have children?
Yes. Jalen and Ali Brunson have a daughter named Jordyn James Brunson, who was born on July 31, 2024.
Source List
- People: All About Knicks Star Jalen Brunson’s Wife, Ali Brunson, Accessed September 26, 2026.
- People: New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and Wife Ali Quietly Welcome First Baby Together, Accessed September 26, 2026.
- The AMB Method: ABOUT AMB — The AMB Method | Scarsdale, NY Physical Therapy | AMB – CSCS & Postpartum Exercise Specialist, Accessed September 26, 2026.
- Second Round Foundation: Ali Marks Brunson, Accessed September 26, 2026.
- New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson Named 36th Captain in Franchise History, Accessed September 26, 2026.
- NBA.com: Jalen Brunson wins Bill Russell trophy as 2026 NBA Finals MVP, Accessed September 26, 2026.
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I am an independent writer and digital researcher tracking everyday trends, tech shifts, and modern culture across the US. I focus on cutting through internet noise to bring you crisp, honest stories and practical takeaways you can actually use.
