The seeds of greatness may have been planted in Dallas, but it was in New York that Jalen Brunson truly blossomed. The former Villanova guard spent four seasons with the Dallas Mavericks , learning the game's nuances from legendary guard Jason Kidd and playing alongside young superstar Luka Doncic.
However, things went differently than planned for the Dallas front office to get out their checkbook and hand Brunson the contract he thought he deserved. Instead, Brunson signed with the Knicks , became an All-Star for the first time last season, and led the team to the second round of the NBA Playoffs with one memorable performance after another.
Looking back, Jalen expressed a desire to remain in Dallas. However, he acknowledges that the outcome was ultimately beneficial for everyone involved.
The Mavs are in a good spot
After losing Brunson, Dallas quickly pivoted at the 2023 trade deadline, acquiring superstar guard Kyrie Irving to pair with Luka. With the former NBA champion playing yin to the young Slovenian's yang, the Mavs went on a spectacular postseason run in last season's NBA Playoffs, making their way to the NBA Finals before losing to the Boston Celtics.
Jalen said his decision to leave the Mavs and sign with the Knicks benefited both Dallas and New York.
"They're in a position right now where they're in the finals, so clearly, they didn't need me," JB told Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks.
The big-bodied guard clarified that he has no animosity towards his former team, even though they couldn't negotiate a contract extension when Brunson was keen on staying with the Mavericks.
"It's not on them. I have the utmost respect for that organization. I talk to Mark, I talk to all of them. I just thank them for everything. There are no grudges; we all move on. It is what it is," Jalen uttered.
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Has developed his game further
Dallas hesitated to give Brunson a contract extension before the 2021-2022 season as they sought to assess the 6'2" guard's performance after 20-25 games into the season. JB, though, believed he proved his worth when he held the backcourt down when Doncic went down with an injury that kept him out of the roster for an extended period.
Brunson's game developed further in New York, where he averaged 24.0 points on 49 percent shooting and 6.2 assists in his first season. His second season with the Knicks was even better, as he averaged 28.7 points and 6.7 dimes per outing. He earned a spot on the league's All-NBA second team and finished fifth in the race for the MVP award.
"I've definitely established myself more in the past two years than I did in my first four years for sure. But it's not a knock on anybody. You have to make decisions in a timely manner. It's just how it goes sometimes. Sometimes you strike gold; sometimes, you're digging for nothing," Brunson quipped.
As sophisticated as the teams' front offices are, it remains an inexact science with many tools that can help them project a player's health, productivity, and potential longevity on specific contracts. Jalen is proof of that; Dallas had a gem on their hands but couldn't hold on to him. Now, New York has the point guard they long needed, and Jalen has found a new home where he can continue to thrive.
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