Jalen Brunson and Luka Doncic can look back on their Dallas days without any hard edges.
Four years after their partnership ended, Brunson said the bond they built with the Mavericks meant a lot to him. He called Doncic “My boy, my guy,” and made it clear the experience helped shape his own rise.
“Being drafted with him was special because I learned a lot in my rookie year by just watching him and seeing him. Even though he was a couple of years younger than me, he was already great, so being able to grow with him as friends and teammates and as players made me better. But that’s my guy, and I love him to death for sure.”
Brunson arrived in Dallas through the 2018 NBA draft, and at the start, the outside expectations around the duo were modest. Over time, though, the two guards became one of the league’s most effective pairings and helped the Mavericks reach the playoffs regularly.
Doncic hasn’t forgotten that stretch either. He described the run as “special” and pointed to Dirk Nowitzki as part of what made the transition smoother.
“It was me and JB the first time,” said Doncic. “Dirk was there, so it was special to be on the same team with him.
That’s my guy, me and JB were together. He always had that mid-range - it was his favorite shot.
But we just came into the league, and I think we were just trying to figure out who we are and what we were gonna do.”
Brunson was the first one out, and his departure set off the wider roster shakeup in Dallas. Still, Doncic held no bad blood toward him. Their time together produced real results, including the Mavericks’ run to the Western Conference Finals in 2022, a season that had some experts expecting even more growth ahead.
That next step never came. A few months after the Conference Finals loss, Brunson signed with the Knicks, ending the pairing for good. Since then, both players have reached the NBA Finals, but only Brunson has come away with a championship after winning his first title with New York.
Doncic, now with the Lakers, has found success alongside Austin Reaves, but he still hasn’t matched what he had with Brunson. Their chemistry was rare, and it left a mark on both careers even if their time together was brief.
In Other News...
Cooper Flagg's Early Exit Leaves Mavericks Fans With One Big Fear
Cooper Flaggs night ended early after a hard foul from Aaron Nesmith sent the Mavericks rookie to the floor and briefly turned the game into something more chippy. The collision led to a confrontation, with technical fouls assessed to Nesmith and Naji Marshall before Dallas later ruled Flagg out for the rest of the game because of left shoulder soreness.
For a Mavericks team already trying to manage every early-season concern around its young core, any injury scare involving Flagg is going to draw immediate attention. The club did not offer a fuller diagnosis, leaving plenty of unease about how serious the shoulder issue might be and what it could mean if he is forced to miss more time. [Read more 🡒]
Cooper Flagg Injury Scare Has Mavericks Fans Holding Their Breath
Cooper Flagg gave the Mavericks an uneasy moment against the Indiana Pacers when he went down after a hard foul that was ruled a Flagrant 1, landing awkwardly on his left shoulder in the process. Dallas quickly labeled the injury as left shoulder soreness, which at least pointed away from immediate worst-case concern, but it still left the rookie's status in limbo for the rest of the night.
Flagg did not return after halftime, and the team was still waiting to offer a fuller picture once the game was over. For a Mavericks group already keeping a close eye on its young cornerstone, the early wording offered some encouragement, but not nearly enough to quiet the concern until more information comes in. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Finally Got A Win But One Scary Moment Changed Everything
The Mavericks finally broke through for their first win of the season, beating the Pacers 121-105 in a game that brought a little relief after an uneasy start. It also gave Dusty May his first victory as an NBA head coach, and for much of the night there was enough good to go around, from Dallas' pace to the steady presence of Kyrie Irving as the team tried to settle into a rhythm.
Still, the postgame focus shifted quickly to Cooper Flagg after a scary moment changed the feel of the night. He left after injuring his left shoulder on a hard fall following a foul by Aaron Nesmith and was ruled out for the rest of the game, leaving Dallas to wait and see what comes next for one of the team's biggest young pieces while the win itself suddenly felt secondary. [Read more 🡒]