Jalen Brunson recently shared his perspective on his time with the Dallas Mavericks, particularly regarding the team's decision to let him and Luka Doncic depart. In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Brunson reviewed career images and paused at one from the 2018 NBA Draft, where he and Doncic were selected by the Mavericks.
Brunson, who signed with the New York Knicks in free agency in the summer of 2022, was initially willing to accept a four-year, $55 million contract extension with Dallas. However, following a breakout 2021-22 season, his market value increased, leading him to sign a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks.
When shown an image and noting online commentary about the Mavericks "fumbling the two of you," Brunson responded with a smile, stating, "They made decisions and I’ll leave it at that. They made their decisions."
Career Trajectories Diverge
Brunson and Doncic showcased their potential as a backcourt duo during the 2022 postseason, leading the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals. However, their time together in Dallas concluded when Brunson departed in free agency. The situation became more complex for Dallas following a February 2025 trade that sent Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers, a move that contributed to the dismissal of then-general manager Nico Harrison later that year.
Since leaving Dallas, Brunson has achieved significant success with the Knicks. He developed into an All-Star and an All-NBA performer, ultimately leading the franchise to its first NBA championship in over 50 years. Brunson was named NBA Finals MVP after the Knicks defeated the Spurs in five games in the recent finals, solidifying his place as one of the team's all-time greats.
Doncic is set to begin next season with a reconfigured Lakers team, which has added players including Walker Kessler, Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Collin Sexton.
Meanwhile, the Mavericks organization has experienced considerable changes following the departures of both Brunson and Doncic through separate transactions. Brunson chose not to directly criticize Harrison, allowing the contrasting team outcomes to speak for themselves: the Knicks are coming off a championship season, while the Mavericks have undergone significant organizational shifts.