Jalen Brunson and the young child captivated by his three-point celebration
With 4:49 left in the fourth quarter, Jalen Brunson hit a 3-pointer from the corner, bringing his total to 42 points against the Miami Heat on December 21. He glanced at his right hand, folding down his ring and pinkie fingers while leaving three fingers extended, and quickly brought it under his nose as he sprinted down the court, showcasing his signature 3-point celebration.
In the crowd at Madison Square Garden, a 3-year-old fan who gained attention for mimicking Brunson all summer imitated his gesture.
On October 22, Myleen Rulloda shared a compilation on Instagram featuring her daughter, Rya. The videos showed Rya with a Brunson doll, frequently shouting his last name and performing his celebration while posing for pictures. Rulloda, a New York Knicks supporter since the 1990s, captioned: “POV: your daughter is obsessed with Jalen Brunson.”
The post attracted over 1.7 million views and 180,000 likes. Two days later, Brunson responded with a hand heart emoji.
“I never expected anything to come from him commenting. Honestly, I didn’t think he would comment at all,” Rulloda told ESPN. “I assumed no one would see this video. I thought it was just for my friends and family.”
As Rulloda’s compilation video gained popularity, the Knicks reached out and invited the family to the game against the Heat. She expressed that she was “super shocked” and never anticipated her post would go viral.
Nearly two months after Rulloda’s post, Brunson met Rya and her family at the Garden before the game. He had a straightforward message upon entering the room.
“Nice to meet you guys — finally.”
View this post on Instagram
Since Brunson joined New York in 2022, Rulloda noted that she, her husband, 9-year-old daughter Mya, and Rya watch every game together. Naturally, her children became fans, but Rya developed a particular affinity for Brunson.
Throughout the day, Rulloda would mention Brunson’s name and perform his celebration. The Knicks star has previously stated that his 3-point gesture holds no specific significance.
“It genuinely came out of nowhere and has no meaning other than three points on the board,” he told the New York Post in 2024. “I just kept it because it was distinctive and no one else was doing it.”
The celebration was memorable enough for Rulloda that she taught her daughters the move in May 2024. Mya learned it quickly, but Rya, being a toddler, took until December of that year to master it.
“It was a lengthy process,” Rulloda said. “But then the whole Brunson thing, like her actually saying ‘Brunson,’ that was all [on] her own. No one prompted her to say that.”
Rulloda mentioned that she is unsure where Rya’s enthusiasm for yelling “Brunson” originated. However, his last name and celebration became Rya’s signature phrase and pose of the summer. Whether at the water park, in front of a birthday cake, or at a restaurant, a familiar high-pitched voice could be heard before the photo was taken: “Brunsonnnnnn.”
A doll of the three-time NBA All-Star was introduced last May. Rulloda purchased it at the Garden and gifted it to Rya, who immediately recognized Brunson’s likeness.
“She absolutely knows who he is. … When he’s on the screen, she’ll say, ‘Oh Brunson.’ She recognizes how he looks,” Rulloda said. “It’s as if he is really [her] friend.”
On the day they met Rya’s so-called friend, they first encountered Rick Brunson — New York’s assistant coach and Jalen’s father — before heading to the court. Rulloda is uncertain if the elder Brunson was aware of their story. Nevertheless, he still made an impact on their day. Since they were seated a row behind the court, Rulloda mentioned he allowed the family to move closer to watch warmups.
Being courtside is when the family truly understood the reach of Rya’s videos.
“We’re just sitting courtside during warmups and suddenly [Knicks forward] Mikal Bridges pointed to her and said, ‘Oh, hey, I know you.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my god,'” Rulloda recalled.
The family also met Knicks forward OG Anunoby and legend Clyde Frazier. However, the highlight occurred when Brunson met the family in a moment Rulloda described as unforgettable.
View this post on Instagram
Brunson immediately embraced Rya before shaking Mya’s hand. Rya showcased her nails and shouted his name before handing her doll to him. Brunson signed her jersey and provided the family with a personalized one. He took a group photo, but one task remained before heading out to score a season-high 47 points in a victory.
Brunson and Rya posed for a photo together, with their pinky and ring fingers folded.
