Bree Purganan is a devoted mother to NBA star Jalen Green, yet her inspiring journey reaches far beyond motherhood. It’s a story of resilience, cultural pride, and unwavering dedication. Born in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, Bree moved to California, balancing roles as a homemaker, career nurse, entrepreneur, and devoted mother daily.
Deeply rooted in healthcare and advocacy, she founded a breast cancer foundation to promote awareness, support research, and enhance patient care nationwide. Her passion for helping others shines through this foundation, reflecting her lifelong commitment to making a meaningful impact in the community.
However, perhaps her most significant role has been that of a proud parent. Bree has played a crucial role in helping Jalen Green become the professional basketball player he is today. Mother taught her children to appreciate their Filipino roots, to be resilient and the best version of themselves, never to stop learning, and to value discipline. Her husband, Marcus Green, played an equally important role in parenting their children, maintaining a very balanced and loving home.
The article encompasses all aspects of Bree Purganan’s life — her early years, education, career, family, cultural advocacy, and legacy as both a mother and an individual. Provides a comprehensive portrait of a woman whose gentle strength and unwavering support played a crucial role in nurturing one of the NBA’s most promising young talents.
Early Life and Background
Bree Purganan was born in Ilocos Sur, Philippines, where she was raised in a traditional, close-knit Filipino family that valued discipline, education, and cultural pride. She grew up alongside her siblings, Kristie Canon and Josh Bass, under the guidance of her mother, Julia Durbin, a teacher, and her stepfather, Bob Durbin. Bree’s early life instilled in her a deep sense of responsibility and compassion—qualities that would later define her career in healthcare. Driven by ambition and a desire for a better life, she eventually moved to the United States, where she seized new opportunities while remaining rooted in her Filipino heritage. Her early experiences of resilience, cultural pride, and family values would become the foundation for how she raised her children, including NBA star Jalen Green.
Education and Career
After early education, Bree followed further study in America. She attended Merced College in California, where she earned a degree in nursing. Bree was also a member of the college basketball team, showcasing her multifaceted nature.
In her professional life, Bree has carved out a niche as a nurse, dedicating her career to helping others. She is not just a heart physician, but also an entrepreneur and philanthropist, who loves doing business in healthcare. Bree established “Bree’s Foundation for Breast Cancer Research” to raise awareness, fund research, and provide ongoing community patient support nationwide. The foundation reflects her dedication to making a positive impact in the community.
Personal Life and Family
Former high school basketball player Marcus Green, who played with NBA player DeShawn Stevenson, is married to Bree Purganan. Marcus has been an essential part of Bree’s life and has played a significant role in raising the kids.
Bree and Marcus share three children:
- About Raquel Purganan: Raquel, the oldest daughter, is married to her husband, Steve Tucker, and they reside in Fresno, California.
- Jalen Green: The Filipino American basketball player born in Merced, CA, on February 9, 2002, is the middle child of the couple. As a shooting guard for the Houston Rockets in the NBA, he has become one of the most recognized figures in international basketball.
- Jurnee Tyra: The youngest of the three siblings, Jurnee is also a basketball player, and she aspires to emulate her brother’s success.
Fast forward to today: Bree’s family life embodies a blend of Filipino tradition and American culture, providing a home life that nurtures all of her aspirations through discipline, ambition, and a strong sense of pride in Filipino culture.
Effects on Jalen Green’s Career
The impact of Bree Purganan on her son, Jalen Green, on the latter’s basketball career is significant. Since they were young, they had already recognized his potential, and she would support him no matter what. Bree and Jalen’s father, Marcus, ensured that Jalen had every resource, every skill set, and every tool to refine everything he needed to learn, to excel in this sport.
Jalen has often named his mom as being up his behind with putting in work and chasing your goals. He has said in interviews that she made sacrifices and played a significant role in his journey to the NBA. Jalen’s growth as a man and a player can be attributed to Bree’s support, which she has utilized wisely to coax him out of his shell.
Heritage and Identity in Culture
There are many ways to see that Bree isn’t just Filipino-American — she’s a Filipino-American who knows how to proudly pass her culture on to her children. As one example, many of the Houston Rockets, who are also Asian-American, have made their Filipino culture very prominent, such as Jalen Green. He has appeared in cultural events and expressed interest in playing for the Philippines in international basketball tournaments. It was very artistic, and Bree, in a way, is symbolic of heritage and identity.
Philanthropy and Advocacy
In addition to being a professional and wife, Bree is a passionate philanthropist. She uses her foundation to help promote breast cancer awareness, research, and patients. This is evident from her work as an advocate, demonstrating that she is a compassionate individual who is willing to make a difference in the lives of others.
Conclusion
Bree Purugganan is strong, hardworking, and always there for her family. From being a daughter in the Philippines to being a mother, a worker and an advocate in the U.S., she is depicted as a nurse, a mother, a professional, an advocate of gun control, a double culture identity, one who goes through a lot, hardworking, loving, independent, caring and as a courager. And, clearly, the success that Jalen Green has had as a promising professional basketball player testifies to everything a loving parent can do to influence their child. Bree has made a name for herself in healthcare, business, and charity, and remains a powerful force in these industries, regardless of the notoriety her son’s NBA career brings.
