Mavs Owner Mark Cuban Blames Jalen Brunson Parents for leaving Dallas.
Credit: Tom Fox Via “Dallas Morning News”
New York, NY (PSF)— During the offseason the New York Knicks shocked fans when they signed Point Guard Jalen Brunson for four-years, $104 million. Now with an out of nowhere press conference from Dallas Mavericks Mark Cuban, he blames Brunson’s parents for leaving Dallas in the offseason. The signing was a shock because fans thought they would pursue Donavan Mitchell from the Utah Jazz at the time. Brunson was the 33rd pick of the second round in the 2018 NBA Draft and coming out of Villanova, Brunson was looked at as a role player. During the Dallas Mavericks Playoff run last season, Brunson played like a star and far better than what anybody thought he could. He took over games while Luka Doncic was injured and even helped to get the Mavs into the Western Conference Finals. Playoff explosions from role players isn’t a new phenomenon as some players are able to up their game when the time comes.
When the news came out that the Knicks were signing Brunson to a $104 million deal people thought that the Knicks had overpaid for a role player. Even Knicks fans were very critical oft the franchise for the deal. As of today, the Knicks have cliched a playoff spot and are the 5th seed in the tougher Eastern Conference. The Knicks culture has shifted with Jalen Brunson as he wasn’t voted an All-Star this year, but plays like one. He is averaging 24 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per game. The NBA media and fans were wrong about the Brunson contract and if the question was brought up about the contract now, most would say Brunson is now underpaid.
Everyone has taken notice of Brunson play especially Mark Cuban. In an unscheduled media press conference before the Mavs and Sacramento Kings game, he explained that they weren’t given a chance to sign Brunson to an extension. Cuban told reporters “It went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over” per ESPN's Tim McMahon. The narrative was that the Mavs offered a $56 million extension last season that Brunson was willing to sign, but the Knicks offered more. According to shared texts from Cuban, agent Aaron Mintz and Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison, Brunson was never willing going to sign the extension. According to Cuban, Jalen’s father made negotiations stop for an extension when he took over. The Mavericks weren’t allowed to talk with Jalen before the free agency period opened on June 30th and he ended up signing with the Knicks that same day.
Credit: AP Sam Hoodie
Rick Brunson involvement isn’t a new report as the Knicks did lose a 2025 second-round pick as the NBA found they engaged in talks prior before free agency. The more you look at it the more evidence does stack up against the Knicks. The Knicks general manager Leon Rose is a former agent and was Rick Brunson’s agent during his time in the NBA. This does look bad as the Knicks hired Rick Brunson to serve as an assistant coach on Head Coach Tom Thibodeau's staff. Rick Brunson did work with Thibodeau in Chicago and Minnesota so there is prior history. Cuban may be right that they weren’t given a chance, but why share this information now and not at the time of the signing.
Cuban may have a point, but with the season almost over and the Knicks in the playoffs and the Mavs on the verge of missing it screams desperation. The Knicks already took their punishment for “tampering” and lost a second round 2025 pick. The Knicks offered $104 million contract, which is twice as much as the Mavs offered. If they had offered Brunson more, it still wouldn’t match as much as the Knicks offered. Once again, the timing for this information’s take away the seriousness of it because Cuban came out to say this days after superstar Luka Doncic came out saying he misses former teammate Jalen Brunson. The Mavs are 38-42 and currently the 11th seed in the west outside the play in. The Mavs have fallen drastically this season especially after the blockbuster trade for Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets. The Mavs have fallen from the 4th seed to the 11th and most likely will miss the play in.
