How Bree Purganan's resilience shaped Jalen Green's journey to the NBA
Bree Purganan is the mother of Jalen Green, the Phoenix Suns shooting guard. The rising star often credits his mother, Bree, for her resilience and dedication in raising him and his siblings.

Source: Facebook
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Bree Purganan was born in Ilocos Sur, Luzon, Philippines, and later moved to the United States.
- Bree is married to Marcus Green, a former basketball player. She has three children: Raquel, Jalen, and Jurnee Tyra.
- She is a licensed nurse and has worked in various healthcare facilities, including Madera Community Hospital and Corizon Health, with a specialisation in mental health and emergency care.
Profile summary
Full name | Bree Mennette Purganan |
Common name | Bree Purganan |
Gender | Female |
Year of birth | Undisclosed |
Place of birth | Ilocos Sur, Luzon, Philippines |
Place of residence | California, United States |
Nationality | Filipina-American |
Ethnicity | Asian |
Religion | Christian |
Height in centimetres | 165 |
Height in feet | 5'5" |
Weight in kilograms | 60 |
Weight in pounds | 132 |
Eye colour | Brown |
Hair colour | Black |
Mother | Julia Durbin |
Siblings | 2 |
Marital status | Married |
Partner | Marcus Green |
Children | 3 |
Profession | Nurse |

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Bio of Bree Purganan, Jalen Green's mother
Bree Purganan is a Filipina-American nurse. Purganan became famous following her son's rise to stardom. However, unlike many celebrity parents, she has an active calling to nursing and philanthropy.
She actively offered support for her son, passionately defending him on occasion. In response to unpopular opinions about her son's background, she told Bleacher Report,
They don't know he has fought and practised and worked to be where he's at. It wasn't handed to him. We don't have the [money] to pay for [trainers].

Source: Original
Similarly, the Sun's guard credited his mother for his career success in an interview with 24 Oras Weekend,
I got my work ethic from her, my mindset from her... since a young age, I felt like winning was everything.
Bree Purganan's early life and Filipina heritage
She was born and raised in Ilocos Sur Province, Philippines. Details of her precise age and date of birth are yet to be made public. Bree was born to Julia Durbin in a family of five. Her siblings are Josh Bass and Kristie Purganan Cannon.
From student to nurse: Bree Purganan's career journey
Bree attended Merced Community College District, where she also played college basketball. She completed her associate degree in Nursing in 1999. In 2002, she completed her licensed vocational nursing certification (LVN) at Turlock Emanuel.
Celebrated as Jalen Green's motivation, Purganan is a professional nurse and businesswoman based in Fresno, California, USA. She is active in charity work, especially cancer awareness and research, through her organisation, Bree's Foundation for Cancer Research.
As of 2025, she is a mental health care nurse. She has also worked as a licensed vocational nurse (LVN) since 2016 in the emergency department of Madera Community Hospital. Between 2004 and 2015, she worked at various health facilities, including Provant, OccuVax, Corizon Health and the CDC.
Bree Purganan’s role as a wife and mother
Purganan was previously married to Steve Tucker and is currently married to Marcus Green, a former basketball player. There is little information about Bree and her current husband, with whom she has three children. The couple has not disclosed how they met or how long they have been married.
Bree Purganan is a mother of three children. Raquel Purganan is her first child. Her second child is Jalen Green, who was born on 9 February 2002. The last-born daughter is called Jurnee Tyra.
FAQs
- Who is Jalen Green's mom? Jalen Green's mother is Bree Purganan
- What is Bree Purganan's age? Her age has yet to be disclosed
- What is Bree Purganan's nationality? She is of Filipino-American nationality.
- What percentage of Filipino is Jalen Green? Green is of partial Filipino descent through his mother, Bree Purganan.
- Who is Bree Purganan's husband? Bree's husband is Marcus Green, a former basketball player.
- Does Jalen Green have a sister? The NBA player has two sisters: Raquel Purganan and Jurnee Tyra.
- What certifications does Bree Purganan have? Bree Purganan holds an Associate's degree in Nursing from Merced College.
Bree Purganan is a Filipino-American nurse known for her commitment to healthcare and family. As the mother of Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green, she played a central role in his development through her resilience, work ethic, and unwavering support. Her nursing career spans over two decades, including work in mental health and emergency care.
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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng