{
  "id": 10619108,
  "title": "NBA star Jalen Brunson says his friends knew exactly what not to ask of him in high school",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/29/nba-star-jalen-brunson-says-his-friends-knew-exactly-what-not-to-ask",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-29T05:34:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/jalen-brunson-having-right-friends-environment-basketball-goals-nba-knicks-2026-9"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a joint appearance on the Things No One Tells You podcast with his mother, New York Knicks player Jalen Brunson revealed that his friends were instrumental in helping him stay focused on his basketball career during high school. According to Brunson, his parents taught him to be realistic about balancing academics, sports, and social life. Choosing basketball over a social life, he dedicated his time and energy to excelling in grades and basketball, while leaving behind a social life. Brunson credits his group of friends for understanding his priorities and ensuring he remained committed to his goals, never pressuring him to skip practice or games. He emphasized the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive people, stating that his friends played an unexpected role in keeping him on track with his ambitions. In June, Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years and was named Finals MVP after scoring 45 points in the decisive Game 5 victory against the San Antonio Spurs.",
  "summary": "Jalen Brunson said his success was shaped not only by his own discipline, but also by the company he kept.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jalen Brunson's friends helped him stay focused on basketball during high school.",
    "His parents taught him to balance academics, sports, and social life realistically.",
    "Brunson credits friends for understanding his priorities and supporting his goals."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}