Chris Percy-Einen

the amount of different places that he pulls this superstardom from is the proof that he's the reason why, you know, you can't just say, Oh, it's his parents.

Oh, it's his whatever.

But I think what I've been building up to here is I kind of want to say the reason for all of this is because he's six foot one in heels.

It's because he grew up with a dad who,

who was on the fringe of the NBA and who had to fight his tail off to stay in the league.

He grew up watching exactly what it takes to be desperate and to stay on the fringe of the NBA.

He also, you know, I do a show with John Wallace, who is a member of the 90s Knicks team.

And one of Rick Brunson's closer teammates from back in the 90s.

And he told me Rick never, ever told him Jalen was good.

He said he said for the first time two years ago, Rick said, yeah, my son is good.

Think about it.

Jalen's been on the Knicks for four years.

He's led them to year-over-year improvement.

And even after, I think it was 2024, game seven in the second round, I guess that was the season that allowed Rick to think, okay, maybe my guy's all right.

It's all these factors, right?

It's the fact that his parents both knew that he wanted to be great and then gave him the room and resources to do it.

It's not like he was born and they had him dribbling in the crib as an infant.

It was more so they asked Jalen, do you want to do this?

It will help you if you do.

Um, cut to today, I've been told Jalen watches like Derek Jeter press conferences sometimes in the off season, just to like, kind of recenter himself and be like, this is how to deal with New York media.