Although not as famous as her son, Jalen Green (a rising basketball player), Bree Purganan had a major influence on his NBA journey, surpassing his basketball achievements. Being of Filipino descent, she led him through his career development by continuously backing disciplined direction and educational leadership.
Bree Purganan used her experience raising Jalen to educate him about working hard with modesty and never giving up, which helped him achieve success in all his endeavors. The following article will discuss the life story of Jalen Green’s mother for those who want to know more about her. It will also examine how Bree Purganan supported Jalen Green to achieve stardom so that you understand her influence on his professional path.
Bree Purganan’s Quick Bio
| Full Name | Bree Purganan |
| Known for | Being Jalen Green’s mother |
| Date of Birth | Not Known |
| Birth Place | Ilocos Sur, Philippines |
| Current Residence | California, United States |
| Nationality | Filipino-American |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches |
| Weight | About 60 kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Dark brown |
| Parents | Mother: Julia Durbin Father: Not known |
| Siblings | Sister: Kristie Purganan Canon Brother: Josh Bass |
| Marital status | Married |
| Husband | Marcus Green |
| Children | 3 (Jalen Green, Jurnee Tyra, and Raquel Purganan) |
| Profession | Nurse, entrepreneur |
| Social media |
Who Is Bree Purganan?
Thankfully, Bree Purganan gained recognition among the public for her role as the mother of professional basketball player Jalen Green, who is of Filipino-American descent. Originally from the Philippines, she made her son the most successful Filipino-American athlete in recent times.
She combined motherhood with nursing as her career after becoming devoted to raising her children because nursing requires three key strengths that she taught her children: patience, resilience, and compassion.
Her professional career also includes business ownership at her location in California, USA. She operates Bree’s Foundation for Breast Cancer Research as her primary focus in charity work, where she directs her efforts towards cancer awareness and research. This way, she has gained inspirational status in the eyes of Filipino Americans and worldwide basketball supporters.
Early Life and Background
Bree Purganan grew up in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, with her brother, Josh Bass, and her sister, Kristie Purganan Canon. Her mother, Julia Durbin, who works as a teacher, never revealed her father’s identity. After Julia Durbin married again in 1995, Bob Durbin took on the role of her stepfather.
They settled in the United States and currently live there. Bree Purganan gave birth to Jalen Green on February 9, 2002, in Merced, California.
Her Filipino Heritage
Her roots are in the Philippines. Although Bree Purganan spent her adult years in the United States, her Filipino cultural heritage has maintained its core position within her identity. She passes down familiar traits from Filipino culture, including strict discipline, hard work, and strong family dedication to her children.
Jalen Green regularly discusses his Filipino heritage because his mother strongly supported his ethnic pride. She maintained a strong connection between her son and his Filipino heritage while he lived in the United States.
Her Personal Life
The world follows her parenting journey with Jalen Green, yet she lives her life with a meaningful career.
- Profession and Career
Her 5 feet 5 inches height did not stop her from participating in college basketball at Merced College and continuing with nursing studies. She demonstrates resilience and compassion in raising her children precisely because of her strong nursing aptitude. She implements her nursing abilities to parent them.
During her working hours, Bree Purganan preferred dedicating her free time to family and loved ones. She managed both career success and provided needed support to her children so that they could grow properly.
- Family and Personal Relationships
Bree Purganan is the mother of three children: two daughters (Jalen Green and Jurnee Tyra) and one son (Raquel Purganan). Jalen Green is at position two in their family line. Hence, the information about his biological father remains undisclosed by her. She shares her marriage with basketball athlete Marcus Green. He played professional basketball with DeShawn Stevenson during their high school days. Jalen Green maintains a strong bond with his stepfather, who remains beside him throughout everything in basketball.
He received his family values from his mother, who constantly reinforced their significance since the first day. Because of his mother’s impact on him, he maintains a strong sense of ground after facing NBA pressures.
Bree Purganan’s Role in Jalen Green’s Career
As Jalen Green’s life moves forward, Bree Purganan stands as one of the key driving forces in his success. His mother has proved herself a strong supporter of his talents since she first observed his potential when he was young.
- Early Basketball Training and Support
Jalen Green received his first basketball lessons at an early age through the valuable help of Bree Purganan, his main mentor. She took his basketball commitment seriously by providing him with optimal training spaces and coaches.
As soon as she witnessed his potential, she enabled his participation in basketball camps and tournaments. Her permanent dedication to his skills made him feel confident about his goals and set his sights on them.
- Providing Emotional and Mental Support
His mother supports him through biological motherhood and guides him through mentoring, motivational leadership, and enthusiastic encouragement. Being an NBA player requires strong determination because Jalen Green experienced many obstacles, including aggressive competitors and physical injuries, alongside heavy expectations about his performance abilities.
During the journey, Bree Purganan maintained her position beside him to provide psychological comfort and direction. She provided her son with steady encouragement and maintained his disciplined mindset. Through her dedication to hard work and determination, she taught her son how to develop mental toughness, which has become essential for his achievements.
- Instilling Filipino Values in Jalen Green
Jalen Green frequently talks about how his mother maintains his tie to his Filipino heritage because he identifies as Filipino and American. She successfully taught him about his Filipino culture; it strongly shaped his identity while playing basketball.
Under her direction, she taught her son valuable Filipino traditions, including consistent dedication, humility, and focus on family. Jalen Green developed his respectful and disciplined characteristics because of the sense of values his mother instilled in him.
Jalen Green’s Rise to NBA Stardom
His path to NBA greatness consisted of continuous hard work, supported by his mother at each stage.
- High School Career and Recognition
When he enrolled at San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, California, the national spotlight turned to him because he proved himself a standout elite basketball athlete. Athletic recruitment services and college sports expert scouts began recognizing the talented athlete because of his outstanding performance results.
His exceptional high school performance led him to win multiple elite basketball honors, including California Mr Basketball and McDonald’s All-American recognition. His high school achievements demonstrated the positive influence his mother and family gave him.
- Choosing the G League Over College
In 2020, Jalen Green shockingly rejected college to participate in the NBA G League Ignite program. The alternative move served him well as NBA preparation beyond what traditional college basketball could have provided.
Bree Purganan inspired and assured her son that this was the right career direction. Jalen Green gained the confidence needed to pursue this unusual path because his mother supported him in his abilities and encouraged him to make this decision.
- NBA Draft and Rookie Season
No other Asian-American basketball player has ever received a higher draft position when the Houston Rockets made Jalen Green their second overall selection during the 2021 NBA Draft. The NBA Draft selection placed him in the second position in 2021, which produced intense joy for him and his mother, who dedicated constant support to his athletic development.
During his first Rockets season, he displayed both his extraordinary talent and his athletic skills while demonstrating his ability to reach NBA elite player status. The new player established critical importance within the team while averaging outstanding statistics, which led to his place on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
The Challenges of Single Motherhood
It takes exceptional determination for a single mother to fulfill her responsibilities when her child strives to reach life’s highest goals. Bree Purganan endured many obstacles while caring for her son, Jalen Green. Her commitment to her son’s future persisted through every financial difficulty, time restriction, and emotional barrier that stood against her path.
She dedicated herself entirely to providing financial support for her son. She sought every way possible to deliver an excellent life for him since she lacked a co-parent to share parenting responsibilities. She made frequent sacrifices, requiring her to give up her professional goals and wants. Her strict pathset remained to ensure Jalen Green received complete opportunities to succeed both during his field play and in life beyond sports.
Bree Purganan showed unwavering determination and persistence throughout her life. She balanced working her job and fulfilling her duties while attending to her son’s training responsibilities. She managed through financial hardships alongside other single mothers, but she dedicated everything to taking care of her son. Through his dedication and skills, Jalen Green earned scholarships and professional achievements, but she gave him the priceless backing needed for him to achieve his athletic goals.
Jalen Green’s Connection to the Philippines
The rising NBA star demonstrates excellent pride because of his Filipino ancestry, which he learned from his mother. The bond between Jalen Green and the Philippines extends beyond symbolism because it belongs to his heritage.
· Visit to the Philippines
Jalen Green visited the Philippines in 2021 and received enthusiastic, welcoming gestures from Filipino basketball admirers. His journey to the nation was noteworthy because it showed his ties to the country and Filipino supporter devotion.
During his visit, he expressed gratitude for his Filipino roots through his mother and his wish to help the community. The Philippines’ membership on the global stage is crucial to him because it strengthens his connection to his cultural roots.
· Inspiring the Next Generation
Being among the rare Filipino players in the NBA has made Jalen Green a motivational figure for Filipino children who want to be basketball players. His mother’s ongoing support to maintain his heritage connection has established his status as an inspiration for ethnic athletes who wish to reach professional-level success.
Bree Purganan’s Influence Beyond Basketball
· Promoting Filipino Culture
Through Jalen Green’s professional success, Bree Purganan achieved the goal of elevating Filipino heritage while managing his success as a professional basketball player.
The Filipino nation has become dear to him because he has made multiple trips to visit the country. He appears in numerous Philippine basketball events while maintaining friendships with fan communities nationwide. His mother keeps the bond by staying active in his Filipino background.
· Emphasizing Education and Discipline
Despite Jalen Green’s hectic basketball activities and his early basketball triumphs, his mother strongly urged him to prioritize education and cultivate discipline. Through her approach, Bree Purganan has taught her son responsibility and humility, keeping him balanced during his fast ascent to fame.
She is familiar with the challenges of professional athletes, and she teaches him each step to deal with his rapidly rising fame and expanding duties.
Bree Purganan’s Legacy: More Than Just a Mother
Bree Purganan’s lasting impact originates from her love and sacrifices while she supported those around her. Her meaningful heritage consists of her passion, strength, and selfless dedication to those she loves. As Jalen Green’s foundation, she remains an unnoticed hero who has demonstrated the transformative influence of maternal commitment throughout her life.
Her influence on her son is transparent in his behavior at every stage of his life. His respectfulness, strong work approach, and ability to stay humble come directly from his mother’s life lessons. Jalen Green received invaluable guidance from his mother about handling professional athletic problems and preserving his moral standards and honorable nature.
His sports success exists only because his mother devoted herself to his growth through love and personal sacrifices. Since early on, she has filled multiple roles because she has provided insightful direction to him while continuously supporting him wholeheartedly.
Conclusion
Bree Purganan has built her life story through persistent effort while showing endless devotion. Being a supportive mother, she supports NBA star Jalen Green while helping his professional development and maintaining stability during his fast ascension into public recognition.
Many youth athletes and Filipino-Americans draw inspiration from her life story. Bree Purganan demonstrates in her actions and teachings that a mother’s constant devotion transforms her child’s life into something extraordinary. Jalen Green’s success in the NBA depends significantly on the solid base created by his mother’s constant backing.
