The essence
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New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson is married to his high school sweetheart, Ali Marx Brunson.
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Marks is a physical therapist who received his doctorate in physical therapy from Northwestern University in 2021.
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Brunson and Marks welcomed their first child, daughter Jordyn James, on July 31, 2024.
Jalen Brunson and his wife Ali Marks are the people they've been dating since the beginning.
The New York Knicks point guard and physical therapist are former high school sweethearts who even attended prom together in 2015. Brunson proposed to Marks in 2022, nine years into their relationship. They officially married in an elegant ceremony in 2023 at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. In a touching nod to their relationship history, Marks changed into her prom dress for her second outing, revealing People magazine , that the 2015 dress was "iconic.".
Jalen Brunson and Ali Marks Brunson after the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals. Photo: Instagram/Ali Marks
Brunson also highlighted their relationship history in the lead-up to their wedding. "[Ali] has always been there for me, and I'm lucky to have her," the NBA star said in the same interview. People . Indeed, his wife, Marks, and their daughter, Jordyn James, are his biggest fans when he takes the court. The couple recently shared a public display of affection after his team won Game 4 of the 2026 Eastern Conference Finals.
Learn more about Jalen Brunson's wife, Ali Marks, below.
Marx and Brunson have been together since high school.
Ali Marks and Jalen Brunson before their 2014 prom. Photo: Instagram/Jalen Brunson
According to Brunson's Instagram, he and Marks have been together since 2013. In 2016, the then-collegiate basketball player shared a photo of himself and his girlfriend on Halloween. The caption appeared to reference their relationship anniversary, October 27th, which he marked with a red heart emoji. Other photos from the early days of their relationship can be seen on Brunson's Instagram, including a sweet photo of the couple at their high school dance in 2014 and the aforementioned prom photo.
She holds a PhD from Northwestern University.
Ali Marks Brunson in an Instagram post from September 2025. Photo: Instagram/Ali Marks Brunson
The high school sweethearts didn't attend the same college after graduation, but continued dating long-distance. While Brunson began his basketball career at Villanova University in Philadelphia, Marks attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, according to her LinkedIn profile. She graduated in 2017 and began her studies at Northwestern University the following year.
In 2021, Marks earned her doctorate in physical therapy. The Northwestern University graduate celebrated her graduation by posting photos from the ceremony on her Instagram, including one where she poses with her adorable dog. "PASSED ✅ Alison Marks, PT, DPT, CSCS," she captioned.
According to her LinkedIn profile, while attending Northwestern University, Marks also worked as a reading and literature tutor, helping children aged 4 to 8 in Chicago Youth Programs achieve academic success. She currently works as a licensed physical therapist.
She married Brunson in 2023, ten years after they began their relationship.
Ali Marks and Jaylen Brunson at the 2023 Covenant House Evening of Stars Gala. Photo: Daniel Zuchnik/Variety via Getty Images
The Knicks star went back to basics, planning a romantic marriage proposal for his longtime girlfriend, Marks. In September 2022, he proposed on the basketball court of their shared alma mater, Adlai E. Stevenson High School in Illinois, standing beneath a floral arch. Sharing photos of the proposal on his Instagram, he captioned the post simply: "Forever." Marks' post also featured more detailed shots of the proposal preparations, and the caption was poetic: "You are forever.".
In 2023, they gathered family and friends in Chicago for a summer wedding, which took place nearly ten years after the beginning of their relationship. In the article People magazine , In a tribute to their wedding, wedding planner Carrie Zack explained that the couple wanted an atmosphere more akin to "an evening at one of their favorite spots rather than a traditional wedding celebration." The ceremony was officiated by Brunson's longtime friend and former teammate, Ryan Arcidiacono, and many of his New York Knicks teammates were in attendance.
In 2024, their first daughter, Jordyn, was born.
Ali Marks Brunson and her daughter Jordyn in May 2026. Photo: Instagram/Ali Marks Brunson
On July 31, 2024, the Brunson family expanded with the birth of daughter Jordyn James Brunson. MVP announced the news on his Instagram account, posting a close-up of the newborn holding his finger. Marks posted a similar photo on her social media.
Since Jordyn's birth, the 1-year-old has frequently appeared in her mother's Instagram posts: watching the waves during a trip to the beach, joining Marks (now Mrs. Marks Brunson) on the court wearing an adorable baby version of her dad's jersey, and, as her mom wrote in one caption, growing up at Madison Square Garden.
Marx is always there for Brunson during important moments in his life.
Jalen Brunson kisses his wife, Dr. Ali Marks Brunson, after Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in May 2026. Photo: Gregory Schamus/Getty Images
Since 2013, the physical therapist has been by her husband's side as he reaches new heights in his basketball career. In July 2022, she posed with her now-husband when he signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the New York Knicks and shared the image on her Instagram. More recently, when the team reached the 2026 NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years, she posted a carousel photo on Instagram of Brunson, herself, their daughter, and his teammates celebrating the victory.
Read the original article on InStyle.