The basics:

• Knicks point guard and NJ native Brunson takes equity stake in Just Salad
• First athlete partnership for the fast-casual chain
• Just Salad plans 30 new locations this year
• Brunson will help promote, grow the brand

New York Knicks point guard and New Brunswick native Jalen Brunson is lending his star power to healthy fast-casual chain Just Salad.

Fresh off a historic NBA Finals run, Brunson has taken an equity stake in the New York-born concept. According to a recent news release announcing the collaboration, it marks Just Salad’s first athlete partnership and Brunson’s first restaurant investment.

Founded in 2006, Just Salad is known for its customizable salads, wraps, warm bowls, soups and smoothies, as well as classic offerings and rotating seasonal options.

A Certified B Corporation, it also has a reusable bowl program that gives customers the option of buying a $1 reusable bowl and receiving a free salad topping with every use.

Just Salad’s footprint of 125-plus U.S. locations includes more than a dozen restaurants in New Jersey. After opening 20 new sites nationwide in 2025, the chain expects to add 30 spots this year.

NJ roots

The announcement comes just weeks after Brunson led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years by defeating the San Antonio Spurs in five games. He also earned NBA Finals MVP honors.

Brunson was born in New Brunswick and spent part of his childhood in Cherry Hill before moving to the Chicago suburbs. There, he became a nationally recognized high school basketball standout.

Following a stellar collegiate career at Villanova University, Brunson was selected by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2018 NBA Draft before signing with the New York Knicks in 2022. Weeks earlier, his father and former NBA player Rick Brunson joined the Knicks’ staff as an assistant coach.

Beyond basketball, Brunson has built a growing business portfolio through endorsement deals with brands including Nike and BodyArmor.

He also founded the Second Round Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to educational, sports and wellness opportunities for financially underserved students and families.

Bowled over

As a self-described longtime fan of Just Salad, Brunson said, “When I started thinking about owning equity in a restaurant, I knew I wanted it to be more than just putting my name on something. I wanted to partner with a company whose values matched mine and that was making a real impact in the communities it serves.

“Just Salad checked every box … I have a lot of respect for the way they’ve built their business, with quality, consistency, sustainability and people at the center of everything they do,” he said. “As someone who’s proud to call New York home, it means a lot to partner with a brand that started here and continues to invest in this city.”

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In addition to working with the brand’s culinary and leadership teams, Brunson will visit Just Salad locations, according to the chain. Just Salad did not specify how many years the “long-term partnership” will be.

Just Salad founder and CEO Nick Kenner added, “As a born and raised New Yorker who started and grew Just Salad in my hometown, there is no greater privilege than welcoming Jalen Brunson into the Just Salad family as a key partner.”

“Jalen embodies everything Just Salad stands for: discipline, authenticity, and a relentless commitment to doing things the right way. Having just celebrated our 20th anniversary, Just Salad is on a strong growth trajectory — and having Jalen alongside us will only accelerate that further. We couldn’t be more proud he chose us,” Kenner went on. “What we’re building together is just getting started, and Jalen’s influence will be woven into the future of our brand in ways our customers will start to see soon.”