Bree Purganan’s trip from Ilocos Sur, Philippines transformed her into a successful Filipino-American nurse and entrepreneur through sheer determination. Her 5-foot-5-inch frame didn’t stop her from playing college basketball at Merced College, setting a powerful example that would shape her son’s future NBA career.

The Houston Rockets’ shooting guard Jalen Green’s mother has made an impact way beyond the reach and influence of basketball. She supports her son who was picked second overall in the 2021 NBA Draft and ranks among ESPN’s top 100 NBA players. Her achievements include becoming a healthcare professional and founding Bree’s Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. She manages all this while raising three children in California.

From Philippines to America: Bree Purganan’s Early Life

Bree Purganan’s story starts in the beautiful province of Ilocos Sur, Philippines. Her Filipino heritage ended up molding her perspective on life and motherhood.

Growing up in Ilocos Sur

Bree Purganan’s early life unfolded in Ilocos Sur, surrounded by rich Filipino traditions. Her hometown’s picturesque landscape and the historic cobblestone streets of Calle Crisologo in Vigan created perfect childhood memories. These places held such meaning that years later, her son Jalen revisited them during his “JG4 Manila Tour.” He walked through Calle Crisologo wearing a traditional “salakot” (hat) and holding a “pamaypay” (fan) to connect with his mother’s roots.

Family influences and values

Julia Durbin, Bree’s mother, worked as a teacher and taught her children education’s true value. Bree grew up with her sister Kristie Purganan Canon and brother Josh Bass. Their tight-knit family lived by typical Filipino values that became Bree’s character’s foundations.

Core values that shaped her upbringing included:

Strong family ties and loyalty
Profound respect for elders
Communal spirit and generosity
Dedication to hard work and perseverance

These principles became part of Bree’s identity and shaped how she raised her children in a multicultural environment. Jalen Green often credits his success to his mother’s influence, saying, “I got my work ethic from her, my mindset from her.”

The journey to the United States

Bree and her family made a life-changing decision to move to the United States to seek better opportunities. This move meant more than just changing locations – it required adapting to an entirely new culture with strength and resilience.

California became their new home, where Bree managed to keep her Filipino heritage alive while embracing American culture. She created her own unique Filipino-American identity. She lived in three California cities: Merced, Livingston, and Fresno. Her son Jalen Green was born in Merced on February 9, 2002.

Miles away from her homeland, Bree made sure her children stayed connected to their Filipino roots. She blended Filipino traditions with American customs in their home naturally. Her steadfast dedication to preserving her heritage while building a life in America gave her children a strong multicultural foundation.

Building a Family: Bree’s Life as a Mother

A woman’s dedication to family stands at the core of Jalen Green’s basketball success. She shaped not just an NBA star but built a close-knit household rooted in love and cultural values.

Meeting Marcus Green

Bree Purganan’s family story begins with Marcus Green, a former basketball player who once played alongside NBA veteran DeShawn Stevenson. While their first meeting remains private, their relationship became the foundation of their family. Marcus gave Jalen his surname after adopting him and grew into a vital father figure. Their connection grew stronger through Jalen’s basketball days. Marcus stood up for his stepson when people claimed he had a privileged life, telling Bleacher Report: “He’s not living large. It’s not the worst, but it ain’t the best. He works for everything.”

Raising three children in California

Bree raised three children in California with incredible care:

Raquel Purganan – Her eldest daughter, now married to Steve Tucker and lives in Fresno, California
Jalen Green – Born February 9, 2002, her middle child and NBA star
Jurnee Tyra – Born February 2011, her youngest who shares a love for basketball

Despite her son’s achievements putting her in the spotlight, Bree managed to keep an amazing balance between supporting Jalen’s basketball career and being there for all her children. She helped shape Jalen’s defensive skills on the court. He credits his early defensive mindset to his mother, who played against him on their small driveway court until ninth grade.

Creating a supportive home environment

Bree and Marcus built a family where Filipino traditions naturally mixed with American influences. They created a home based on mutual respect, steadfast support, and appreciation of multiple cultures. Their parenting style brought together Bree’s emotional guidance and Marcus’s basketball knowledge. This made them the ideal team to nurture talent.

The Green-Purganan home valued strong family ties, cultural pride, and believed hard work turns dreams into reality. Bree didn’t just cheer from the sidelines. She stayed involved in her children’s lives and built a space where talent and ambition grew alongside cultural identity.

Nurturing a Basketball Star: How Bree Shaped Jalen’s Career

A determined parent who sees potential early stands behind every successful athlete. Bree Purganan, Jalen Green’s mother, became that guiding force who shaped his basketball trip from playground games to NBA stardom.

Early signs of Jalen’s talent

Bree had Jalen try different sports like football and tennis. She watched carefully to see which activity lit up his passion. Basketball naturally became his calling. Jalen never complained about basketball practices—he was happy to attend them. “He was so tired, but he loved it,” Purganan recalled. “It was nothing ever that we had to push him to do. It was him always asking us to do it”.

His dedication showed through countless hours on half-courts with single-rimmed hoops. These practice sessions helped him become the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Jalen started playing basketball full-time in eighth grade after a football injury, which makes his quick rise more remarkable.

Sacrifices made for his development

Bree saw her son’s exceptional potential and made strategic decisions that put his growth first. Her most pivotal move supported Jalen’s groundbreaking choice to skip college and join the NBA G-League Ignite program. He became the first player to take this path.

“I think it was 100 percent the right decision,” his high school coach said. “Not just financially… but he got better”. This choice proved Bree knew challenging her son would make him stronger.

Her courtside presence and support

Bree stayed Jalen’s most loyal supporter during his rise. She attended games, managed his schedule, and kept him grounded as media attention grew. She gave him the mindset that drives his success today.

“I got my work ethic from her, my mindset from her,” Jalen said proudly. “She used to tell me to go get it, and that is what I did… Since a young age, I felt like winning was everything”.

Jalen still names his mother as his greatest motivation in the NBA. After his draft selection, Bree said, “He’s always been confident. Everything that he’s always wanted, he’s worked so hard to go after. This is the person that he has become growing up. So proud of him”.

Beyond Basketball: Bree’s Professional and Charitable Work

Bree Purganan has built an impressive professional life that shows her caring nature and dedication to helping others, even as her son makes headlines on the basketball court.

Career as a nurse and entrepreneur

Away from basketball tournaments and bleachers, Bree chose a challenging career in healthcare as a professional nurse. Her work shows her nurturing personality—traits that naturally carried over to how she raised her children. The same compassion she gives her patients reflects how she’s supported her children through their lives.

Her professional goals reach beyond nursing. She stepped into entrepreneurship, which proves her adaptability and business sense. The details of her business ventures stay private, but her path shows her strong work ethic and determination.

Founding Bree’s Foundation for Breast Cancer Research

Bree’s greatest contribution outside family life comes from her healthcare advocacy through Bree’s Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. This charitable organization focuses on:

Early detection through awareness and education
Providing screening resources to those in need
Offering treatment guidance and survivor support
Supplying free prostheses, bras, wigs, and head coverings

The foundation’s mission statement speaks clearly: “BREAST FOUNDATION DEDICATED TO THE EARLY DETECTION OF BREAST CANCER THROUGH AWARENESS, EDUCATION, SCREENING, TREATMENT RESOURCES AND SURVIVOR SUPPORT.” This cause holds deep personal meaning for Bree and drives her passionate advocacy.

Balancing career and family responsibilities

Without doubt, it takes exceptional time management skills to handle a successful nursing career, business ventures, charitable work, and motherhood. In spite of that, Bree has found ways to balance these competing demands throughout her life.

She maintains professional excellence while raising three children—including supporting Jalen’s packed basketball schedule—which shows her incredible resilience. Her work-life balance stands as an inspiring example of the modern Filipino-American success story.

Bree continues to embody the values she’s taught her children by using her professional expertise to help the community: hard work, compassion, and giving back to others.

Conclusion

Bree Purganan shows how dedication and love can transform multiple lives, not just one. Her experience from Ilocos Sur to becoming a successful Filipino-American professional demonstrates the power of steadfast dedication. People know her as NBA star Jalen Green’s mother, but her influence reaches way beyond the basketball court through her roles as a nurse, entrepreneur, and founder of a breast cancer research foundation.

Family is the life-blood of Bree’s success story. She built an environment where Filipino values blend naturally with American dreams. This proves that cultural heritage strengthens rather than divides. Her children’s achievements, especially Jalen’s, stem directly from the mindset and work ethic she taught them.

Bree’s life shows that helping others achieve their dreams doesn’t mean giving up your own. Her nursing career, business ventures, and charitable foundation continue to help countless people while she champions her children’s success. This perfect balance of family dedication, professional excellence, and charitable work defines Bree Purganan’s inspiring legacy.