Isiah Christie 
The New York Knicks taking home an NBA title is a massive win for the city of New York (and our fans here in NJ), given it hadn’t happened in 53 years. However, like with many things, the Big Apple can thank New Jersey for its achievement – because, yes, the Knicks’ two best players are from the Garden State. Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ Finals MVP, is from New Brunswick, and Karl-Anthony Towns, his de facto sidekick and a multiple-time All-Star, is from Edison. Read on to learn about the Knicks stars’ connection to New Jersey.
Jalen Brunson: From Central NJ (Which He Claims Does Not Exist)
Jalen Brunson, the widely recognized face of the New York Knicks, has grown into one of the NBA’s biggest faces following his recent championship win with the team. The Knicks hadn’t won a championship since 1973, over half a century ago, and his efforts as a leader and Finals MVP have won the hearts of fans across New York and beyond.
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However, something a lot of fans don’t know, or rather, don’t want to admit, is that Brunson is a proud New Jerseyian, being born in New Brunswick and raised in Cherry Hill. He lived in the state until sixth grade, and later moved to Illinois, where he attended Stevenson High School and enjoyed a successful varsity basketball career. Despite his move, Brunson remains close to New Jersey, as it is rumored he owns a mansion in Ocean City that was purchased in 2024. He has also mentioned that visiting the Jersey Shore is his favorite thing to do in the state. Brunson also believes that Central New Jersey does not exist, and that New Brunswick is part of South Jersey, according to teammate Karl-Anthony Towns.
Read More: Welcome to Our Country, New Jersey (A Love Letter Ahead of the World Cup)
What makes Brunson’s connection to New Jersey so special is how his career mirrors New Jersey culture. Much like NJ, he has spent years being largely underestimated and misunderstood. Criticism of his potential was so severe that even in the years leading up to the Knicks’ title, Brunson was told he was “too small” to lead an NBA team to a championship. And now, with the haters silenced, he stands as one of the league’s greatest underdog stories, very much in line with his origin state.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Edison + Piscataway Roots
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Another New York Knicks star, Karl-Anthony Towns, is a proud New Jerseyian as well. Towns, who has carved out a great career, was the 1st overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft and has since won a championship with the Knicks this year, was selected to the All-Star Game six times, and has been selected to an All-NBA Team three times. Towns, who is considered one of the best shooters to ever play at the center position, was integral to the Knicks’ title.
Towns was born in Edison and grew up in Piscataway. He first attended the Lake Nelson Seventh-Day Adventist School in Piscataway before transferring to Theodore Schor Middle School, and also attended St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, where he led the team to the state championship in 2012. Towns was immediately recognized as one of the USA’s top high school prospects upon committing to the University of Kentucky, where he enjoyed a successful freshman year before declaring for the 2015 NBA draft.
Despite his New Jersey roots, Towns did grow up a Knicks fan, as they were his family’s favorite team and even gave his father, Karl Towns Sr., the opportunity to try out for the team. Although Towns Sr. was eventually cut, Karl-Anthony Towns remained a big fan of the Knicks, and his championship win with the organization is considered a full-circle moment.
Other NBA Stars From New Jersey
Beyond the Knicks’ two stars, New Jersey is also known as the birthplace of many great NBA players. This includes:
- Shaquille O’Neal, born in Newark, is a 4x NBA champion and widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
- Rick Barry, born in Elizabeth, led the Golden State Warriors to a championship and won Finals MVP in 1975.
- Dennis Rodman, born in Trenton, is a 5x NBA champion and is recognized as one of the best rebounders of all time.
- Tom Heinsohn, born in Jersey City, was an 8x NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and led the franchise to two championships as a coach.
- Bam Adebayo, born in Newark, has been to two NBA Finals and recorded the second-most points in a single NBA game, with 83.
- Dylan Harper, born in Englewood, currently plays for the San Antonio Spurs, who lost to the Knicks in the NBA Finals. Harper is considered one of the league’s most promising young players, and also played for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights from 2024 to 2025.
See More: The NY Knicks’ Surprising Connection to Hoboken, NJ
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