Jalen Brunson packed two very different celebrity celebrations into one weekend, traveling from a teammate’s wedding in California to surprise Fat Joe at his 56th birthday party in New York City.
The Knicks star had been in the Los Angeles area for Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods’ Saturday, August 15 wedding in Malibu. By Sunday evening, Brunson was back on the East Coast and joining Fat Joe’s celebration at Radio Park in Manhattan.
TMZ reported that Brunson flew back from L.A. specifically in time for the party, where his father, Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson, was also among the guests. Allen Iverson, DJ Khaled, Mary J. Blige, Teyana Taylor, Jadakiss, Remy Ma and several other music and sports stars joined the celebration.
The surprise also highlighted an increasingly visible friendship between Brunson and Fat Joe. Less than a week earlier, the Bronx rapper had performed at Brunson’s annual Second Round Foundation charity golf event in New York.
Brunson Turned a Malibu Wedding Weekend Into a New York Surprise
Brunson’s weekend began on the opposite coast. He and his wife, Ali Brunson, attended Towns and Woods’ August 15 wedding in Malibu alongside several other NBA players and a long list of celebrity guests.
The guest list included Brunson’s Knicks teammate Josh Hart as well as Mohamed Diawara, Andre Drummond and Chris Paul. Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Michael B. Jordan, Jada Pinkett Smith, Teyana Taylor, Gayle King and longtime Knicks fan Ben Stiller were also among those at the ceremony.
TMZ says Brunson then boarded a flight east on Sunday and made it to Fat Joe’s party that evening. The quick turnaround took him from one star-packed celebration in Malibu to another in Manhattan on consecutive days.
His arrival also fit the Knicks-heavy atmosphere surrounding Fat Joe this summer. The rapper has been a highly visible supporter of the team and was among the celebrities celebrating New York’s 2026 NBA championship, its first title in 53 years.
Fat Joe Celebrated With Music and Sports Stars at Radio Park
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Fat Joe’s private celebration took place at Rockefeller Center’s Radio Park. The Source reported that the gathering brought together figures from music, entertainment and professional sports as the rapper marked his 56th birthday.
TMZ’s guest list included Iverson, Khaled, Blige, Taylor, Yung Miami, Jadakiss, N.O.R.E., Raekwon, Fabolous, Remy Ma and DJ Envy. Rick Brunson was also there, adding another direct Knicks connection to the night.
The basketball theme carried over to dessert. Fat Joe was presented with a custom Knicks-themed birthday cake featuring the New York City skyline.
Fat Joe Had Just Shown Up for Brunson Days Earlier
Brunson’s appearance came less than a week after Fat Joe supported one of the NBA star’s own major events. On August 10, Brunson and his mother, Sandra Brunson, hosted their annual Second Round Foundation Charity Golf Classic at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York.
PEOPLE reported that nearly 900 people attended the event, with Fat Joe performing for the crowd. Josh Hart, Knicks coach Mike Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, Knicks president Leon Rose, Hank Azaria and former Knick Allan Houston were also among the attendees.
The Brunsons launched Second Round in 2022, and the first edition of the golf classic drew about 150 guests. Sandra told PEOPLE that the foundation’s growth had been planned before the Knicks won the championship, though she acknowledged that the team’s Finals run had brought greater awareness to its work.
That championship gave the Brunsons another reason to celebrate at this year’s event. Jalen was named NBA Finals MVP after the Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games, while Fat Joe’s performance brought one of the team’s most recognizable celebrity supporters into the celebration.