Shortly after the Mavericks` 2021-22 season concluded, team owner Mark Cuban suggested that re-signing Jalen Brunson was a certainty. He mentioned it casually during a live interview, stating `obviously after re-signing JB` when discussing plans for the offseason. Throughout the Mavericks` playoff journey, as Brunson’s free agency value increased, Cuban consistently reminded reporters that the team held Brunson’s Bird rights. This meant Dallas could exceed the salary cap to keep him and offer more lucrative annual raises and a longer contract than other interested teams.
“We can pay him more than anyone,” Cuban stated when specifically questioned about Brunson. “I believe he wants to stay, and that’s the most crucial factor.”
Brunson noticed Cuban`s remarks while browsing social media early one morning, raising his eyebrows in surprise. He had avoided discussing his future contract throughout the season, even though coach Jason Kidd often said his goal was to `get Brunson paid.` Brunson`s value grew during the playoffs, especially when he excelled while Luka Dončić was injured, proving himself as a clear second option for a team reaching the Western Conference Finals. Seeing Cuban’s comments, Brunson hoped it signaled a significant contract offer, a real commitment to a player Dallas had previously considered trading.
“Hey, JB is about to get that big contract,” Dorian Finney-Smith announced to the media that same night, speaking before Brunson. Brunson remained reserved, saying he was focused on playing with his teammates and appreciating their achievements, postponing thoughts about free agency.
“He’s incredibly boring to interview,” Jalen’s father, Rick Brunson, had joked the previous month, attributing it to his son’s college coach. “He learned that from Jay Wright. Ask him anything, and it’s the same, predictable answers. It’s a Villanova thing. Jay Wright programmed him. He didn’t get that from me.”
Rick Brunson, who played for eight teams over nine NBA seasons, made this comment in a Salt Lake City hotel hallway after the Mavericks` Game 3 victory against the Jazz. As players and staff passed by, many laughed, acknowledging Rick’s candid nature.
His son was emerging as a playoff star, leading the Mavericks to a 2-1 series lead against Utah while Dončić recovered. Rick Brunson was ready to voice his perspective publicly. While Jalen avoided free agency talk, his father was keen to share their side of the story.
“We need to see if Dallas truly wants him. Not just words,” Rick Brunson emphasized. “No discounts. Don’t make it about us. Don’t just say you value him, show it.”
The Brunsons felt undervalued by the Mavericks the previous summer. Jalen, coming off a fourth-place finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting, was eligible for a four-year rookie extension, potentially worth $55.5 million. This seemed reasonable for a 24-year-old who had proven his value to a playoff team, had a strong relationship with Dončić, and contributed positively to the team`s atmosphere. The Brunsons expected the offer to be made and were ready to accept it, eager for Jalen to have the contract security his father never had. They even looked at houses in Dallas, envisioning a yard for Jalen’s dog.
Father and son discussed the anticipated extension while vacationing in Jamaica. They decided they would even accept slightly less than the maximum if needed, aiming for a $50 million deal. “I was giving them a discount!” Rick Brunson later recalled.
However, the Mavericks, communicating through Brunson’s agents, weren`t ready to commit. “When I got the call – the Mavs said, ‘We want to think about it’ – it ruined my whole vacation,” Rick Brunson admitted.
The explanation was that Dallas had recently undergone organizational changes, hiring a new coach and GM, and wanted time to assess the team. They suggested waiting until training camp in September. When September arrived, the extension offer still didn’t materialize.
Several factors influenced the Mavericks` hesitation. With limited assets, Brunson was likely to be part of any trade package for a co-star for Dončić. An extension would make him untradable until mid-season. Cuban was also concerned about luxury tax implications, especially with Dončić’s upcoming supermax contract. While Cuban had previously disregarded luxury taxes, he had become more cautious since the 2011 championship, as penalties increased. He also doubted Brunson’s free agency market, believing teams with cap space were already invested in young guards. Cuban estimated Brunson’s best free agency offer would be the mid-level exception, around $45.1 million over four years.
Rick Brunson declared that his son wouldn`t discuss contracts during the season if an extension wasn`t offered before the season opener on October 21. However, they revisited the Mavericks in early January. After Brunson`s strong play while Dončić was out and his solidified starting role, they informed Dallas they would accept the extension then.
“They ignored it,” Rick Brunson said later. “They had every right to. I don’t fault their business decisions. That’s on them.”
Rumors began circulating about Brunson joining the Knicks in free agency, despite New York needing to clear significant cap space. Brunson was an unrestricted free agent due to a contract detail negotiated by his original agent, a mistake by Donnie Nelson and Cuban. That agent was Leon Rose, Brunson’s godfather and now Knicks president.
The Brunson family had deep ties to the Knicks. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau had known Jalen since birth. Thibodeau and Rick’s relationship went back to Rick’s high school days when Thibodeau coached at Salem State. Thibodeau had been an assistant coach for the Knicks and Rockets when Rick played for those teams and later hired Rick as an assistant in Chicago and Minnesota. Sam Rose, Brunson’s agent and lifelong friend, is Leon’s son.
“I think this New York thing is too tied to his family to overcome,” Mavs GM Nico Harrison texted Cuban in early February.
However, the Mavericks didn`t pursue trade options for Brunson, including offers from New York, before the trade deadline. Dallas considered trading Tim Hardaway Jr.`s contract to create cap space for a larger Brunson extension. Brunson`s agents indicated a five-year, $87 million offer would be accepted. Instead, Dallas offered the original four-year, $55.5 million extension. Finney-Smith accepted his identical extension offer, but Brunson declined, believing he had outplayed that value.
“That was a very short conversation,” Rick Brunson recalled. “I wasn’t on the phone, but the message I received was, ‘You guys wouldn’t be interested in that deal now, would you?’ That’s how it was put to me. I just laughed.”
Brunson continued to play, increasing his value. His performance as the primary ball-handler against the Jazz highlighted his ability in high-pressure situations. However, Brunson was content as Dončić’s supporting player, a role he earned over time despite the Mavericks acquiring other guards who reduced his playing time.
The Mavericks faced challenges in finding a co-star for Dončić. They had limited trade assets due to the Kristaps Porziņģis trade, and Dončić’s ball-dominant style might deter some stars. However, Brunson, a low-maintenance player who didn’t mind playing in Dončić’s shadow, might have been the ideal co-star.
“The main challenge is probably ego,” Brunson said during the conference finals. “When one player dominates the ball, others can get frustrated. They want the ball, or they say they need rhythm. I’ve learned to play without needing rhythm.
“It’s Luka Dončić. That’s not changing. This team will build around him. I’ve adapted to fit that. How can I succeed in my role? My dad says that’s just how it is. Some players have that aura. It revolves around them, rightfully so. I’ve learned to be effective within that.”
Rick Brunson, acknowledging his son’s exceeding expectations, wondered how Jalen would perform with his own offense. “Dallas is a great fit, but ultimately, my son is like anyone else,” Rick Brunson said. “Everyone wants what Luka has. Everyone wants to feel like, ‘I can do this too.’ I don’t always think the grass is greener elsewhere, but we’ll weigh the pros and cons of staying or leaving.”
A week after the Mavericks’ season ended, Rick Brunson became a Knicks assistant coach, reuniting with Thibodeau. Meanwhile, Jalen Brunson stated he heard “crickets” from the Mavericks leading up to free agency, surprising him after Cuban’s public confidence. On draft night, the Knicks made moves to clear cap space, signaling their intent to sign Brunson.
“We weren’t shocked by the Knicks’ actions,” Harrison said that night. “Until he says he doesn’t want to be here, we’re optimistic. We have to be.”
Cuban considered “Fred VanVleet money,” around $105 million over five years, a fair offer for Brunson. He used VanVleet’s salary as a benchmark, similar to using Mike Bibby’s contract when Steve Nash left Dallas years prior.
The Knicks further cleared payroll, removing any need for a sign-and-trade. Reports surfaced that the Knicks were expected to offer Brunson over $100 million for four years.
The Mavericks still scheduled a meeting with Brunson in New York on June 30, the start of free agency negotiations. Some of Brunson’s teammates, along with Cuban and Harrison, planned to attend. The Brunsons anticipated a last-ditch maximum offer from Cuban. The Mavericks could offer up to $175.5 million over five years.
“I know what Cuban is doing. He’s going to come to New York and offer a max deal,” Rick Brunson told his family. “He’s got the money. He’ll offer a max deal and ask, ‘What will you do?’”
Jalen Brunson’s response, according to his father: “I’m taking it.”
“And I said, ‘Gotta do it!’” Rick Brunson added.
With Texas`s no state income tax advantage, the Mavericks could have matched the Knicks` offer, forcing a difficult decision. However, Cuban and the Mavericks didn`t increase their offer. The meeting was canceled, with conflicting accounts of who initiated it. (Cuban and Brunson later agreed the Mavericks canceled it, during a podcast appearance.)
Brunson agreed to a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks that night. It nearly doubled the extension he was willing to accept the previous summer.
“Personally, I felt he was leaving Dallas,” Rick Brunson said about his pre-free agency mindset. “But I had to convince him, ‘You’re better than this. You can lead your own team.’”
“But I’ll say this: if Dallas offered the same money or more, I’m not sure he leaves. Make it a hard decision! They didn’t. They made it easy.”
Despite some criticism of the Knicks` contract, it proved to be a bargain. Brunson quickly became a star in New York, revitalizing a struggling franchise.
Months later, Cuban blamed Rick Brunson for interfering in negotiations. Rick Brunson dismissed this, given his son’s improved contract and role. “Yeah, I’m the father,” Rick said. “You protect your kids, and you tell them the truth.”
Cuban’s claims of not knowing the Knicks’ offer were disputed. Public reporting clearly indicated the offer range. The NBA even penalized the Knicks for tampering, resulting in the loss of a second-round pick.
“We didn’t know the bid,” Cuban insisted. “They never gave us a number. Knowing the numbers now, I would’ve paid it in a heartbeat, but he wouldn’t have come anyway. It wasn’t about money.”
Cuban also disputed the Brunsons’ account of Jalen`s January willingness to sign an extension. He even showed reporters February texts from Harrison to support his point, surprising his GM. When questioned about January texts, Cuban became defensive.
“Bullshit! That’s fucking bullshit, Tim!” Cuban exclaimed. “And you’re a moron if you believe those motherfuckers.”
