Jalen Brunson sounds like a player who’s made peace with the road that took him out of Dallas.
Now an NBA champion and Finals MVP after leading the New York Knicks to the 2026 title, Brunson spent part of this week looking back on his Mavericks years with a tone that was appreciative, not bitter. On Chicago Sports Network’s “By the Horns,” the former Dallas guard said the experience helped shape him.
"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."
Brunson’s gratitude lands differently when you stack it against how the Mavericks handled his rise. Dallas took him with the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, then watched him develop over four seasons beside Luka Doncic. His real breakout came in 2021-22, when he averaged 16.3 points per game and helped push the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals while Doncic missed time with injury.
The contract side of the story is where Dallas’ regret really starts to sting. Brunson reportedly could have signed a four-year, $55 million extension before that breakout season.
After his value surged, the number climbed to a four-year, $104 million deal, and the Mavericks ultimately chose not to match New York’s offer. Brunson headed to the Knicks and wasted little time becoming one of the league’s top point guards.
And “By the Horns” wasn’t the only place he revisited the move this week. In a separate interview with Sports Illustrated, Brunson was shown a draft-night photo of himself and Doncic from 2018 and asked whether the Mavericks fumbled both players. He smiled and kept his answer short.
The broader picture is hard to miss now. Brunson has a championship and Finals MVP trophy.
Doncic is chasing his first title in Los Angeles. Dallas is building around Cooper Flagg.
And the Mavericks are left with the question that never really goes away: what if Brunson and Doncic had stayed together?
In Other News...
Warriors Beat Mavericks As One Rookie Suddenly Has Fans Talking
The Mavericks ran into a lively Summer League test Friday as Golden State pulled away for a 101-90 win, and rookie Yaxel Lendeborg was one of the main reasons the Warriors kept control. Lendeborg filled the box score with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, giving Golden State a versatile presence that made the game feel more like a showcase for his all-around game than a simple July exhibition.
For Dallas, the result was another reminder that Summer League nights can turn quickly when a young player starts dictating the action on both ends. Lendeborg talked afterward about where he wants to keep improving, and the Warriors still have three games left in Las Vegas, starting with Oklahoma City next, which means there should be more chances for him to keep drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Frontcourt Squeeze Could Force A Painful Move Before Camp
The Mavericks frontcourt logjam got even tighter after the addition of Santi Aldama, a move that adds another versatile big to a group already packed with forwards and centers. Dallas also used the draft to bring in Morez Johnson Jr., and the rookies strong Summer League showing only sharpened the sense that there are more bodies than clear minutes when camp opens.
With so many players chasing the same rotation spots, the next decision may come down to subtraction rather than addition. The front office has room to keep sorting through the mix before training camp, and the pressure is now on to decide which pieces fit the long-term picture and which veterans might have to be moved to make the roster workable. [Read more 🡒]
Kyrie Irving Just Gave Mavericks Fans A Reason To Hope
Kyrie Irvings offseason work has given the Mavericks something they badly needed after a year spent without him: a reminder of how much offensive lift he can still provide when he is healthy and engaged. Dallas is entering a new era with a revamped front office and a new head coach in Dusty May, and Irvings presence remains one of the clearest variables in how the teams attack could look once the season gets moving.
Mays reaction to a recent workout was especially encouraging, and it fits the broader sense around the Mavericks that Irving is moving in the right direction after missing the entire 2025-26 season. Even so, optimism only goes so far in the West, where the path back to relevance is crowded and the bigger question is not just whether Irving can help, but whether Dallas can turn that help into something more meaningful. [Read more 🡒]