Jalen Brunson revealed that the Dallas Mavericks had the opportunity to sign him to a four-year, $55 million contract extension before he became a star with the New York Knicks. Despite expressing his desire to stay in Dallas, Brunson claimed that the Mavericks declined to put the offer on the table twice, leading to his eventual departure.
Brunson was eligible for the extension during the 2021 offseason and throughout the 2021-22 season, his fourth in Dallas. Despite performing well and offering to sign the extension before the season and in the first half, the Mavericks postponed the decision, stating they wanted to assess their situation after 20-25 games into the season.
As the trade deadline approached, Brunson anticipated a trade, but it didn’t materialize. After the deadline, the Mavericks offered the four-year, $55 million deal, but Brunson felt he had outgrown it by then. In the 2022 playoffs, he played a crucial role in leading Dallas to victories against the Utah Jazz and Phoenix Suns.
Mark Cuban, the owner of the Mavericks, expressed the team’s willingness to pay Brunson more than anyone and believed he wanted to stay. However, Brunson mentioned that communication became silent after that statement.
Cuban, on the other hand, blamed Brunson’s departure on his father and claimed they didn’t have a chance to negotiate in free agency.
Ultimately, New York signed Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract, which now appears to be a bargain. The connection with Brunson’s godfather, Leon Rose, who is the president of the Knicks, played a role.
Despite the league penalizing the Knicks for early conversations, Brunson has become a popular figure in New York, averaging 27.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.5 assists this season.
Reflecting on his move to the Knicks, Brunson agreed with the sentiment that it was the “best move” he made, emphasizing the positive impact of his decision on “All The Smoke” with Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes.
