Who Is Bree Purganan? Everything About The Life Story of Jalen Green’s Mother
Bree Purganan is a Filipino-American nurse, businesswoman, and proud mother of NBA star Jalen Green. She became famous after her son joined the Houston Rockets as the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Bree raised Jalen with love, hard work, and strong values. Today, many basketball fans want to know more about the woman who helped shape one of the NBA’s brightest young stars. This article tells you everything about her life, family, career, and the role she plays in Jalen’s success.
Biography Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Bree Purganan |
| Nationality | Filipino-American |
| Birthplace | Ilocos Sur, Philippines |
| Current Home | Fresno, California, USA |
| Profession | Registered Nurse, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist |
| Education | Associate Degree in Nursing from Merced College (1999) |
| Height | 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm) |
| Husband | Marcus Green (former basketball player) |
| Children | Raquel Purganan, Jalen Green, Jurnee Tyra |
| Famous For | Being the mother of NBA star Jalen Green |
| Charity Work | Founder of Bree’s Foundation for Cancer Research |
Early Life and Background
Bree Purganan was born and raised in Ilocos Sur, a beautiful province in the Philippines. She grew up in a simple family with her mother Julia Durbin, who worked as a teacher. Her father’s name is not known to the public. In 1995, her mother married Bob Durbin, who became Bree’s stepfather.
Bree has two siblings: a brother named Josh Bass and a sister named Kriste Canon. Later, the family moved to California in the United States. Bree has lived in several California cities including Merced, Livingston, and Fresno. She carries her Filipino roots with great pride and has passed this cultural connection to her children.
Education and Nursing Career
Bree Purganan attended Merced College in California. During her time there, she played college basketball and showed her love for sports. She was a good student and worked hard to build a career in healthcare.
In 1999, she finished her Associate Degree in Nursing. In 2002, she got her Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) certification from Turlock Emanuel. Bree has worked as a nurse for over 20 years. She has worked at different hospitals, including Madera Community Hospital and Corizon Health. Her work focuses on mental health and emergency care. Her nursing career shows her caring nature and her wish to help others.
Marriage and Family Life
Bree Purganan is married to Marcus Green, a former basketball player. Marcus played high school basketball with DeShawn Stevenson, who later became an NBA player. The couple has not shared many details about how they met or when they got married.
Marcus has been a strong father figure in Jalen’s life. He adopted Jalen, which is why Jalen uses the Green surname. Marcus supports Jalen’s basketball career and attends many of his games. Bree has never talked publicly about Jalen’s biological father. Reports say his name is Enoch and he is African-American. This makes Jalen half Filipino and half African-American.
Bree Purganan’s Children
Bree is a proud mother of three children. Each of her kids holds a special place in her heart.
Raquel Purganan is Bree’s eldest daughter. She is married to Steve Tucker and lives in Fresno, California. Jalen Green is the middle child, born on February 9, 2002, in Merced, California. He is now 23 years old and plays for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. Jurnee Tyra is the youngest daughter, born in February 2011. Like her big brother, Jurnee loves basketball and dreams of following in Jalen’s footsteps.
How Bree Shaped Jalen Green’s Basketball Career
Bree Purganan played a huge role in making Jalen the basketball star he is today. She was his first coach and taught him how to play defense in their driveway at home. She helped him build a tough mindset from a young age.
Jalen often talks about how his mother shaped his work ethic and mental strength. In a 2022 interview with sports journalist Chino Trinidad, Jalen said: “I got my work ethic from her, my mindset from her. She used to tell me to go get it, and that is what I did.” Bree taught Jalen that winning takes hard work and dedication. She always encouraged him to believe in himself and ignore negative comments from others.
Jalen Green’s Rise to NBA Stardom
Jalen Green attended San Joaquin Memorial High School in California. After high school, he did not go to college. Instead, he joined Prolific Prep and later the NBA G League Ignite team. This helped him get ready for the NBA.
In 2021, the Houston Rockets selected Jalen as the second overall pick in the NBA Draft. He became one of only three Filipino-descent players in NBA history, joining Raymond Townsend and Jordan Clarkson. Jalen played for the Rockets until July 2025, when he joined the Phoenix Suns. In the 2024-2025 season, he averaged 21.0 points per game, showing his growth as a player.
Bree’s Charity Work and Philanthropy
Beyond her nursing career and family life, Bree Purganan cares deeply about helping others. She founded Bree’s Foundation for Cancer Research, which focuses on breast cancer awareness.
The foundation works to raise money for cancer patients and spread awareness about the disease. Bree uses her medical knowledge to create helpful campaigns. Her charity work shows her kind heart and her wish to give back to the community. Many people respect her for balancing her career, family, and charitable work.
Celebrating Filipino Heritage
Bree Purganan takes great pride in her Filipino roots. She has made sure that Jalen understands and celebrates his heritage. In 2022, Jalen visited the Philippines for his JG4 Manila Tour with Adidas. Bree joined him on this special trip.
In an interview with Philstar, Bree shared her happiness about Jalen’s connection to his culture. She said: “It makes me feel proud for him to carry on and recognize where he comes from, his heritage. My grandfather is from here. For him to recognize that and to be able to come back… it just feels great.” The Philippine fans showed enormous love for Jalen during his visit.
Bree Purganan’s Social Media Presence
Bree Purganan prefers to keep her life private. She is not active on Instagram, but she has a Facebook account where she shares moments with her family.
She does not seek public attention for herself. Instead, she supports her son from behind the scenes. Fans who want to follow Bree can find her on Facebook, where she occasionally posts about her family and profession.
Conclusion
Bree Purganan is more than just an NBA player’s mother. She is a hard-working nurse, a loving parent, and a generous philanthropist. Her dedication, resilience, and strong values helped shape Jalen Green into the basketball star he is today. Bree teaches us that behind every successful athlete, there is often a supportive parent who cheers them on at every step. Her story inspires many people around the world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Bree Purganan?
Bree Purganan is a Filipino-American nurse and the mother of NBA star Jalen Green. She is also an entrepreneur and founder of Bree’s Foundation for Cancer Research.
2. What is Bree Purganan’s nationality?
Bree Purganan is Filipino-American. She was born in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, and later moved to California, United States.
3. Who is Bree Purganan married to?
Bree Purganan is married to Marcus Green, a former basketball player. Marcus adopted Jalen, who now carries his surname.
4. How many children does Bree Purganan have?
Bree has three children: Raquel Purganan (eldest daughter), Jalen Green (son and NBA player), and Jurnee Tyra (youngest daughter).
5. What does Bree Purganan do for a living?
Bree Purganan works as a registered nurse with over 20 years of experience. She has worked in mental health and emergency care. She is also an entrepreneur and runs a charity foundation for cancer research.
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