Just Salad Names New York Knicks Star Jalen Brunson Equity Partner in First Athlete Deal

Just Salad, the New York-born healthy fast-casual restaurant brand committed to making everyday health and sustainability possible, announced a long-term partnership with Jalen Brunson, point guard for the New York Knicks and 2026 NBA Champion and Finals MVP. The collaboration marks Just Salad’s first-ever athlete partnership and Brunson’s first restaurant equity ownership and partnership — a meeting of two New York icons united by a genuine shared commitment to health accessibility, quality, performance and winning.

“When I started thinking about owning equity in a restaurant brand, 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’ve been a fan for a long time, and 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. 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. I’m excited to work alongside the team, spend time in the restaurants, connect with customers, and help grow something I truly believe in.”

The partnership goes beyond a traditional sponsorship. Brunson will be embedded in the business — working with Just Salad’s leadership and culinary teams, visiting restaurants and bringing his competitive mindset directly to how the brand operates.

Brunson is as much of a point guard off the court as he is on, founding the Second Round Foundation, which focuses on education, sports, wellness and beyond, which has already supported several hundred financially under-resourced students and families.

“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,” said Nick Kenner, Founder and CEO of Just Salad. “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.”

Just Salad has more than 125 locations across seven states, some offering drive-thrus, with much of the company’s growth attributed to its operational function centered on the ‘three Cs’ – culture, connection and consistency. As reported by Inc. in May 2026, Just Salad opened 20 new restaurants in 2025 and expects to accelerate that pace this year with 30 new storefronts.