Jalen Brunson 'absolutely' has Olympic dreams with Games returning to LA: 'I would be honored and thankful'

When New York Knicks superstar defender Jalen Brunson took the Intuit Dome tribunal arsenic an All-Star earlier this month, helium did truthful wearing the jersey of Team Stripes – 1 of 2 squads representing those from the United States (the different being Team Stars), portion the 3rd All-Star squad was dubbed Team World. 

But portion Brunson surely enjoys being an All-Star portion simultaneously representing his state of sorts, helium inactive has eyes for the existent happening – Team USA hoops astatine the Olympics. 

There are different boxes to cheque connected Brunson’s vocation goals committee – winning an NBA rubric with the Knicks is the apical precedence successful the coming months. But 1 extremity that hasn’t been erased, and ne'er will, is representing the U.S. connected the Olympic stage. 

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Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and Team USA Stripes gestures during the 75th NBA All-Star Game astatine Intuit Dome connected Feb. 15, 2026 successful Inglewood, California. (Ryan Sirius Sun/Getty Images)

With the Summer Games returning to Los Angeles successful 2028, Fox News Digital asked Brunson if playing successful the Olympics remains atop his goals list. 

"Absolutely," Brunson said, portion besides discussing his concern with BODYARMOR and its "Choose Better" run earlier March Madness adjacent month. "I deliberation there’s thing other to say. It’s 1 of my goals for sure."

Brunson was considered a main snub successful 2024 erstwhile helium was near disconnected Team USA’s roster for the Paris Olympics, wherever they won gold. One of the main debates regarding the roster was whether different guards, including Indiana Pacers’ Tyrese Haliburton, should’ve made the squad implicit Brunson.

In the end, Brunson said past helium thought helium did capable to merit the spot aft however good helium played that season. 

"I thought I could person acceptable in," helium told GQ Sports successful 2024. "I’ve played galore roles passim my career; I could play another. But obviously, it conscionable wasn’t successful the cards astatine that time. And so, you determination on, and you find ways to get better."

Brunson continues to beryllium 1 of the champion constituent guards successful the league, particularly successful crunch clip erstwhile a handbasket is needed for his Knicks. If Brunson continues being the person successful "The Mecca," there’s nary uncertainty he’ll beryllium invited retired westbound to Las Vegas to effort retired for Team USA among the country’s champion yet again. 

Jalen Brunson of the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team shoots astatine a signifier league during the team's grooming campy astatine the Mendenhall Center astatine UNLV arsenic the squad gets acceptable for the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup connected Aug. 6, 2023 successful Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Brunson’s thrust to marque the squad isn’t conscionable for his ain idiosyncratic vocation accomplishments, but alternatively thing more. It’s a emotion for state and wearing the Stars and Stripes for existent alongside his chap compatriots. He’s done truthful successful different tournaments, including the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but ne'er connected the Olympic stage.

"I deliberation it’s going to beryllium a large accidental if presented," helium continued. "It would beryllium an grant to correspond the country. Very fewer radical person the quality to bash so. Obviously, whether it’s playing a athletics for your country, oregon representing your state done the military, not a batch of radical get to bash that. 

"I would beryllium honored and thankful."

Brunson was named to his 3rd consecutive All-Star squad this year, arsenic the two-time All-NBA defender averages 27.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per crippled for the Knicks this season. He is hoping to pb the Knicks to the playoffs with the extremity of getting past the Eastern Conference Finals this clip aft losing to the Pacers successful six games astatine that signifier past season. 

CHOOSING BETTER WITH BODYARMOR

As Brunson eyes the NBA Playoffs, he’s besides excited for different aggravated signifier successful basketball: NCAA March Madness.

BODYARMOR announced its instrumentality to collegiate sports connected Tuesday aft 7 years done a caller multi-year concern arsenic the authoritative sports portion of the NCAA. As such, the announcement up of March Madness has the "Choose Better" slogan, thing Brunson, a two-time NCAA champion with Villanova, knows goes a agelong mode this clip of twelvemonth — whether pro oregon college.

Jalen Brunson of the 2023 USA Basketball Men’s National Team watches his changeable astatine a signifier league during the team's grooming campy astatine the Mendenhall Center astatine UNLV arsenic the squad gets acceptable for the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup connected Aug. 6, 2023 successful Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

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"Most importantly, it starts with hydration," helium said erstwhile asked however helium chooses amended connected a regular basis. "I deliberation nary substance what, erstwhile you’re hydrated, your muscles [and] your assemblage feels good. Obviously, you request nutrition arsenic well. That’s however you replenish passim the game, done hydration. So, that’s however I take better."

BODYARMOR volition clasp the exclusive sports portion rights for NCAA March Madness, making it the lone hydration beverage featured connected the tourney sidelines, which volition see towels, sports bottles and coolers.

The nationalist "Choose Better" ad, which continues the brand’s run which began successful April 2025, volition besides diagnostic LSU prima Flau’Jae Johnson, the brand’s newest partner.

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