Jalen Brunson and Erica Brunson on October 26, 2024 in New York City.
Jalen Brunson and Erica Brunson on October 26, 2024 in New York City.
Jalen Brunson has one younger sister named Erica
The sibling duo both attended Villanova University
Erica currently works for the talent agency Creative Artists Agency, which represents her brother
Erica Brunson is cheering on her big brother Jalen Brunson in his 2026 playoff run with the New York Knicks.
Erica was born on March 14, 2001, and spent her early years in New Jersey with her brother and their parents, Rick and Sandra. The family eventually settled in suburban Chicago. After high school, both Erica and Jalen attended Villanova University, where the NBA star won not one but two National Championships.
“To be honest, I had no idea what Villanova was until 2016!” Erica once told Villanova student magazine OUS. “I was in middle school when my brother decided to come to Villanova, but I literally had zero clue where or what it was. Once he went here and graduated, I had been on campus multiple times, and then I finally took a real tour of Villanova. I remember thinking, ‘I’m comfortable here.’ ”
In 2018, Jalen was drafted into the NBA by the Dallas Mavericks before getting traded to the New York Knicks in 2022. Erica has been a steadfast supporter of her big brother from the get-go, and frequently goes to bat for the Knicks on social media.
From her Knicks fandom to her career in talent management, here’s everything to know about Jalen Brunson’s little sister Erica.
Erica was born nearly five years after Jalen
Jalen Brunson and his sister Erica Brunson.
Jalen Brunson and his sister Erica Brunson.
Erica was born on March 14, 2001.
She is five years younger than her older brother Jalen, who was born on Aug. 31, 1996. The sibling duo spent their early years in New Jersey and moved a total of seven times, per The Philadelphia Inquirer, before settling in suburban Chicago.
In 2019, Jalen celebrated his little sister with a heartfelt birthday tribute alongside a slew of photos from the duo’s childhood.
“My best friend turns 18 today and I couldn’t be more thankful to have a sister like her!” the NBA star wrote. “Watching you grow is a beautiful sight to see and I couldn’t be more proud of you! I love you and thank you for always being by my side Eri 🥰.”
She’s the daughter of athletes
Jalen isn’t the only athlete in the Brunson family; on the contrary, both Rick and Sandra Brunson had athletic careers of their own. The proud parents played basketball and volleyball, respectively, at Temple University in Philadelphia.
After college, Rick played in the NBA for nine seasons. He was a point guard for his son’s team, the New York Knicks, from 1999 to 2000 and finished out his career with the Houston Rockets in 2006. Today, the retired pro serves as an assistant coach for the Knicks.
“He's the most loving, caring father that I could ever ask for me and my sister — but when he's a coach, he's a hard-nose coach. He wants the best put of me, he's going to push me," Jalen explained in a 2023 interview. "He's going to keep pushing me because he knows I want to be the best that I could be."
She attended Villanova University, where Jalen won two National Championships
Jalen Brunson and Erica Brunson.Jalen Brunson and Erica Brunson.
Jalen Brunson and Erica Brunson.
Erica followed in Jalen’s college footsteps when she enrolled at his alma mater, Villanova University. The New Jersey native graduated in 2023 with a degree in communications and a minor in education, according to Sports Business Classroom. She also interned on the Dallas Mavericks’ social media team in 2022.
Erica currently works at a talent agency
Jalen Brunson with his sister Erica Brunson.Jalen Brunson with his sister Erica Brunson.
Jalen Brunson with his sister Erica Brunson.
Following graduation, Erica landed a full-time role at Creative Artists Agency in 2024. The talent agency currently represents her brother Jalen, as well as his teammates Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart. Erica’s interest in sports business was initially sparked by her own high school basketball career, per Sports Business Classroom.
“I wanted to look at what goes on behind the scenes,” Erica said of her decision to pursue a career in talent management, “and what makes the sports world so special.”
She’s an aunt to Jalen’s daughter Jordyn
Ali Marks and Erica BrunsonAli Marks and Erica Brunson
Erica Brunson with her brother Jalen's wife Ali.
On July 31, 2024, Erica became an aunt with the birth of Jalen and his wife Ali's daughter Jordyn. The following year, she stepped out at a Knicks game with her sister-in-law and baby niece in tow.
She’s a vocal supporter of the Knicks on social media
Aside from showing up to cheer on her brother courtside, Erica can also be found cheering on her brother on social media. “I love this team and our fight,” she wrote on X in May 2025. “Go Knicks💙🧡.”