Jalen Brunson's mom texts him before every game: 'He looks forward to them'

Sandra Brunson, mother of NBA star Jalen Brunson, revealed she still texts her son words of encouragement before every game, a tradition she began when he was in high school. Despite Jalen's initial suggestion to simply text "I love you" due to the long NBA season, Sandra continues the practice, noting that her son looks forward to the messages.

“

When he got to the pros, he's like, 'Mom, there's 82 games, 81 games. You don't have to send me a message every, .' He said, 'You can just say I love you.' But I still send them. I still send them. And he looks forward to them.

She shared this during her first broadcast TV interview with CBS News' Dr. Jon LaPook. Sandra emphasized the importance of keeping games in perspective, stating, "it's not the end of the world, it's basketball." She also imparted lessons on leadership to her son, stressing the need for a leader to ensure teammates feel comfortable and believe in their roles, regardless of their specific job.

“

it's not the end of the world, it's basketball.

Beyond the game, the mother-son duo co-founded The Second Round Foundation. This nonprofit aims to empower young people through education, sports, and community engagement, with a strong focus on prioritizing mental health. Sandra believes this focus is essential for helping young people thrive both on and off the court. She also shared a key lesson: "one play doesn't make a game," teaching Jalen that success lies not in what happens, but in how one responds to it.

“

as a leader, he has to understand that everyone has a job to do, and every one of his teammates have to feel comfortable in their role and believe in their role … no matter what it is. And that's his role as a leader.