The former Mavericks guard expressed gratitude for his time in Dallas, but his latest interviews also served as a reminder of how one of the franchise's biggest mistakes unfolded.
Jalen Brunson grew up in the Chicago suburbs, attended Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire and went on to become the NBA Finals MVP after leading the New York Knicks to the 2026 championship. During an appearance this week on Chicago Sports Network's "By the Horns," Brunson reflected on his time with the Dallas Mavericks, and his comments stood out.
"It was great for me," Brunson said. "Obviously, I thought I would be there in the beginning for a long time, but I think that whole situation there, I got to learn from Luka, I got to learn from Rick Carlisle and J-Kidd. And I'm very thankful. I mean, they brought me to the NBA. They allowed me to be me. I got better every single year, so I'm very thankful for them."
That perspective carries more weight when viewed alongside the full story. Dallas selected Brunson with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, and he spent four seasons developing alongside Luka Doncic. During the 2021-22 season, Brunson broke out, averaging 16.3 points per game and helping lead the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals while Doncic missed time with injury.
Dallas reportedly had the opportunity to sign Brunson to a four-year, $55 million extension before that breakout season. Afterward, his value climbed to a four-year, $104 million contract, and the Mavericks chose not to match New York's offer. Brunson signed with the Knicks and quickly developed into one of the NBA's top point guards.
The "By the Horns" interview was not the only time Brunson addressed his departure this week. During a sit-down with Sports Illustrated, he was shown a photo of himself and Doncic from draft night in 2018 and asked whether the Mavericks fumbled both players. He smiled and kept his answer brief.
"They made decisions and I'll leave it at that," Brunson said.
Those two interviews paint a clear picture. Brunson remains grateful for the opportunity Dallas gave him. At the same time, he has not forgotten how his tenure ended. He does not need to say more than he already has.
Brunson is an NBA champion and Finals MVP. Doncic is building toward his first championship in Los Angeles. Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg. The Mavericks will always wonder what might have happened if Brunson and Doncic had stayed together. Brunson appears to have found peace with the outcome, for Dallas fans, that may be the hardest part to accept.
