Jalen Brunson Wanted To Stay With Mavericks, Was Ready To Sign 4-Year, $55 Million Contract

Jalen Brunson told former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson that he wanted to stay with the Dallas Mavericks. 

Brunson was ready to sign a four-year, $55 million contract during the 2021-22 season, but the Mavericks said no two times. 

.@jalenbrunson1 details his last season in Dallas. He was ready to sign a 4-year $55 million contract, but the Mavs front office balked.😳

Full episode of All The Smoke with JB drops tomorrow on our YouTube. pic.twitter.com/whxbOrez0w

— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) February 21, 2024

In the summer of 2022, Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the New York Knicks as an unrestricted free agent. He averaged 24.0 points, 3.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.2 blocks in 2022-23 and helped the Knicks win 47 games and advance to the second round of the 2023 playoffs.  

Meanwhile, the Mavericks struggled last season, winning only 38 games and missing the playoffs. Dallas clearly made a mistake by not keeping Brunson, who is averaging 27.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.2 blocks this season. He made his first All-Star team. 

The Mavericks acquired Kyrie Irving from the Brooklyn Nets last season, so they got Luka Doncic a co-star, but losing a homegrown talent like Brunson was tough for Dallas fans to witness. 

Brunson was the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Villanova. His dad, Rick, is an assistant coach with the Knicks, who are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings with a strong record of 33-22. 

A New Jersey native, Brunson has career averages of 16.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists with the Mavericks and Knicks. The lefty could make one of the three All-NBA teams this season. Brunson is fourth in the league in total points and seventh in points per game.