Looking back, the Dallas Mavericks’ decision not to re-sign Jalen Brunson early may go down as one of the most costly mistakes in the franchise’s recent history.
ESPN revealed why Dallas was hesitant to lock up Brunson ahead of the 2021-22 season, and it appears concerns about his fit with Luka Doncic played a large role.
The Mavericks are worried about how well Brunson Doncic will defend in the backcourt.
These concerns date back to Dallas’ first-round playoff loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2020, when the opposing team targeted both guards multiple times.
As Brunson continued to develop, rivals reportedly began contacting Dallas regularly to gauge his availability in trade discussions.
Despite his progress, the Mavericks chose not to offer an extension immediately, preferring to evaluate whether their core could truly compete for a championship before committing long-term money.
The gamble quickly backfired.
By the time Dallas was ready to make an offer, Brunson had become more valuable. He has become a starter next to Doncic and improved his production in the 2022 playoffs, averaging 27.8 points in Dallas’ first-round win over the Utah Jazz while Doncic dealt with injuries.
Following that season’s trade deadline, Dallas offered Brunson and Dorian Finney-Smith matching contract extensions. Finney-Smith accepted. The former does not.
The Mavericks failed to fully appreciate how strong Brunson’s connection to the New York Knicks had become.
“I think Jalen is loyal to the Mavericks because they drafted him, but the Knicks are his true family,” a Mavericks source told ESPN. “I don’t think we fully understand that yet.”
The relationship goes deeper than basketball. Knicks president Leon Rose previously served as the agent for Jalen Brunson and his father, Rick Brunson. Rick Brunson also joined New York’s coaching staff as an assistant shortly before free agency opened in 2022.
He eventually signed a four-year, $105 million contract with the Knicks and has since developed into one of the league’s top guards.
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