Jalen Brunson fields Swift wedding buzz and Trump White House question
The Knicks star said the team has not discussed a White House visit and addressed Taylor Swift’s courtside turn and MSG wedding chatter.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
3 min read
Jalen Brunson says the NBA champion New York Knicks have not yet talked as a team about a possible visit to President Donald Trump’s White House.
The Knicks guard addressed the issue during Variety’s first Sports & Entertainment Studio in New York, where he appeared with Kristin Lemkau, CEO of J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. Brunson said people have been making assumptions, but the players have not settled the matter together.
Asked about team owner James Dolan’s indication that the Knicks could make the trip, Brunson said the group would deal with the decision when it came up. When told that a visit would make the Knicks the first NBA team to go to Trump’s White House, Brunson reacted with surprise, according to Variety.
Brunson also got pulled into another very New York topic: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding at Madison Square Garden. Media reports had suggested the Knicks’ starting five were invited, but Brunson said he learned about the chatter online like everyone else and did not attend.
He said the Knicks’ championship run may have added to the Garden’s glow, though he also noted that weddings and Madison Square Garden schedules are usually arranged far in advance. Swift and Kelce’s wedding at the arena, he said, was likely a memorable night for them.
Swift had been courtside at Game 4 of the NBA Finals at MSG, cheering for the Knicks. Some Knicks fans had pushed back because she had previously been seen with Kelce, an Ohio native, while he supported the Cleveland Cavaliers against New York. Brunson said he understood the Ohio connection and appreciated anyone who showed up rooting for the Knicks.
The event also focused on money. Lemkau recruited Brunson to the JPMorganChase Athlete Council, a group of nine athletes meant to help younger athletes think more carefully about finances. Dwyane Wade chairs the council, which also includes Tom Brady, Sue Bird, Ally Love, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Kayvon Thibodeaux and A’ja Wilson.
Lemkau said the council was created after JPMorganChase identified financial challenges unique to athletes, including short careers and the need to plan for life after sports. She said the average pro career is about three years, and only 2% of college athletes reach the professional ranks.
Brunson agreed with the warning. He said young players can feel as if big paychecks will keep coming, even though many athletes earn at that level for only a short stretch. Building smart habits early, he said, can help.
Brunson appeared with a cast after surgery to repair a tendon in his left wrist following the Knicks’ title win. Variety reported that he was named NBA Finals MVP and scored 45 points in the clinching game. Brunson said adrenaline helped him play through the injury, while the pain was worse when he was out of the game. He said he expected to stay in the cast for about six more weeks before rehab.
Off the court, Brunson said he plans to start a media company and would welcome a cameo on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” He called star Mariska Hargitay a friend and a longtime role model.
Brunson also said he remains confident in the Knicks despite offseason moves by rivals, including Giannis Antetokounmpo joining the Heat and Jaylen Brown going to the Sixers, as reported by Variety. The Knicks lost backup center Mitchell Robinson to the Celtics, but Brunson said his belief comes from the team’s character, work and daily mindset.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.