Knicks Wives Ali Brunson & Shannon Hart Reveal Their Post-Season Plans

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Forget Disney World, now that her husband Jalen Brunson has won an NBA Championship with the New York Knicks, the happiest place on earth for Ali Brunson is their own backyard with 22-month-old daughter Jordyn.

"We love our beach time," she detailed of her post-season plans with the team captain and star point guard, 29, in an exclusive interview with E! News, "barbecues in the backyard, hanging out at the pool, spending time with Jordyn."

Once the squad officially wraps their historic season by celebrating the end of their 53-year drought with a June 18 ticker-tape parade, the 30-year-old's game plan is to soak it all in with "the most simple of things," she continued. "Like walks on the beach."

Solid chance they could be huddling up with Jalen's college bestie-turned-Knicks teammate Josh Hart (together they won an NCAA title at Villanova University in 2016, with Jalen repeating two years later) and his bride Shannon Hart.

Sitting high atop her depth chart, Shannon told E! News, "just like chill, family time."

She, the shooting guard, 31, and their 3-year-old twins Hendrix and Haze have a vacation or two planned, plus "a lot of relaxation," she added. The key stat: "Not having to get up and go all the time, and be here or there. So, that'll be good."

Courtesy of Reese's

That's not to say she won't still be suiting up for her main gig as a registered nurse.

"I love helping people, I love talking to people," she explained of what attracted her to the medical field. "I just like that one-to-one interaction as a nurse. You're in the room with the person, you're asking them what they need, you're helping them with whatever."

And while her victories might not be celebrated with literal ticker-tape, they mean everything to her patients.

"When it all works out, or you see them leave the hospital," she detailed, "or you help them get through their post-surgery and they're pain-free—just is the best feeling."

That's the same reason Ali mastered the Xs and Os of physical therapy.

"People are coming in such pain, lowest of the lows post-op, and we get to see the spectrum of, you're helping them get better and returning to their self, returning to their previous level of function," explained the founder and creator of The AMB Method. "So, getting people back to where they were is truly amazing."

As for whether either of them dishes out an assist to their husband, Shannon revealed she does pass along her hard-earned wisdom at times, "But does he listen?" she asked. "No. It's like, 'I'm gonna go ask my team doctor.' Like, 'OK, you do that."

Echoed Ali, "We like to keep the boundary of, he is the player with his own personal staff, and I'm working with my own patient." Admittedly, she added, "I don't know everything about what's going on in his side, so I refer out."

That's not to say they don't play a critical role on the greater squad.

Having each supported their high school sweetheart through college championships and previous NBA playoff runs, they've fully mastered the play book.

"Prior to the game, it's pretty normal," Shannon shared. "After the game, it depends on how the game went, whether they lost, if he played well or not. And I've just learned, obviously, if he's upset about something, just leave it for the night, let him get through all his thoughts, or whatever it is. And then in the morning, like, he'll probably talk about it."

Josh Hart/Instagram

A college athlete herself, playing soccer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, "Going into games like this, I know it's already high-stress for them," Shannon explained. "So, I've learned to be calm in those situations, and just handle things as they come, you know, not getting too low, not getting too high."

They each have their pre- and in-game rituals, Ali revealing in her and Shannon's joint campaign with Reese's Oreo Cups that she tries to match Jalen's breaths when he's on the free-throw line. (Wearing her jewelry from their 2023 wedding is also a must.)

As for Shannon, "I always wear my cross necklace," she explained. "I always pray before the game when the national anthem is going."

And it doesn't hurt to grab a Reese's as a pre-game snack. (For those interested in a pro-level move, Ali revealed that as a child she would let them soak up the sun before eating with a spoon: "It was delicious and it was melty.")

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

As for how she might tote them there, Shannon had selected a specific purse to take to Madison Square Garden when the Knicks had an epic come-from-behind victory over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4. So when it came time to fly to Texas for Game 5, she had to shoot her shot once more.

"Obviously it was an insane comeback, probably the most insane comeback you'll ever see," she explained, "So, I'm like, I have to run back the purse."

Clearly Karl-Anthony Towns' fiancé Jordyn Woods isn't the only one with a bit of bag juju.

In fact, all of NYC seemed to get their game faces on, noted Ali.

"You can feel the energy in the city," she stressed, "and this year it feels different. Like even from the start of the season, it just felt different all around." And while they're ready to soak in the good vibes at the victory parade, they're not the only ones claiming the title of MVP—most valuable partner.

Check out more NBA standouts who have scored strong relationships.