The Mind Of The Underrated Champion: How Jalen Brunson Led A City

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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 13: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks lifts the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award trophy

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The Roots Of A Leader​

As the world watched the historic and improbable run of the New York Knicks to become NBA Champions, the rise of Jalen Brunson also took center stage. Beyond his technical and basketball brilliance, how did Jalen Brunson develop the leadership mindset that allowed him to lead a multibillion-dollar organization on and off the court?

Jalen put it this way to me:

“Regardless of the position I'm in, whether I'm a basketball player, whether I'm a teacher or anything...I think the key is just to move life forward and make the world a better place than the way you left it. That's just how I've been. It's how I was raised”

NBA Champion, Jalen Brunson

Just how was Jalen raised? I sat down with his parents, Rick and Sandra, to discuss the key principles they instilled in him that helped him become an inspiration to a team and a city.

Control The Inner World, Not The Circumstances​

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Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks reacts after receiving the "Larry Bird" MVP trophy

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"What we learned is that mindset was helping him focus on the things that you can control. Whether it’s getting good grades in school, being the best teammate, being the best brother, or being the best family member. Work on those things."

Sandra Brunson

Oftentimes in the business world, there is discussion or focus on optimizing external circumstances rather than internal ones. The first lesson of elite performance, in business or sports, is that the arena is entirely internal. The uncertainty of markets, politics, leadership, and environment cannot impact the relentless focus of the internal work.

Jalen Brunson famously said, "The magic is in the work," and in the business world, that work is the ability to block out what cannot be controlled or managed.

Be Comfortable In Your Own Skin​

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Jalen Brunson and Rick Brunson

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"To be a great person. To be a hard worker. To be loyal to himself. To be comfortable in his own skin."

Rick Brunson

The ability to work at our best without the goal of gaining external recognition or validation, but rather out of the comfort and security of who we really are makes the work different. Recognition may still come, and so might the validation, but the internal source allows the flow of the work to be more natural, sustainable, and effective. This sense of security

Build Your Team Carefully​

Jalen is a leader and a team builder — from the unprecedented move of taking a $100 million pay cut to help build out the team roster to how he approaches team building for his foundation, the Second Round Foundation.

“I think it's building a team that understands who you are, your purpose, and where you want to be."

Sandra Brunson

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Sandra Brunson

Sandra Brunson

The old saying rings true: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”. The Brunsons are team builders. Building the New York Knicks or an impactful non-profit can be similar to building a business team. Valuing each team member truly and making sure there is alignment on purpose and direction are the core ingredients.

This is often an ideal that is believed but rarely practiced. Jalen believed in it enough to invest in it as literally and financially as possible. Teams can feel when this is a simple platitude on the company website versus an ideal that is lived out with sincerity.

"Meeting Bianca Crawford Shelton has really helped expand my mindset and helps me a lot. Hall Pass Media has been amazing in helping us with awareness. When Jalen first came into the league, one of the very first people I met was Cynthia Marshall. She has been such a spark and influence for me and my family." -Sandra Brunson

Become A Change Maker​

"We want it to be fashionable again for people to get involved and support, whether it's their local community or another organization."

Sandra Brunson

To achieve visionary change, believing that change is possible is the starting point. The Brunsons, regardless of what the external world knew, thought, or expected, were led by a conviction that was unwavering. The foundation, as well as the basketball journey, has been able to see the vision beyond what is visible. Sandra Brunson is an extraordinary leader and has worked through the Second Round Foundation to curate opportunities for Change Makers who are committed to making a difference to gather, connect, and give back.

The Foundation will be hosting its annual golf tournament to support its incredible community work that is taking place around the country this August.

Bottom line:​

The inspiring leadership of Jalen Brunson has roots in how his parents approached a mindset of greatness and success. Lessons of sacrifice, leadership, true team building, and brilliant execution changed the face of a multibillion-dollar company, New York City, and can change the way we look at our own work.


This article was originally published on Forbes.com

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