Dallas Mavericks: Is Jalen Brunson’s Exit a Big Mistake?

The Dallas Mavericks have faced several high-profile mistakes in recent years, both in on-court performance and off-court governance. As a result, the mishaps fueled frustration among Mavericks fans.

Without a doubt, the February 2025 trade of Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis was one of the most talked about mistakes. The move stunned fans and media members, as Doncic, now 27, and the Mavericks had just reached the NBA Finals in 2024.

Still, there’s a notable mistake that could potentially be the Mavericks’ biggest. The Mavericks reportedly let Jalen Brunson walk away after Brunson, now 29, helped the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2022. Brunson’s 41 points in Game 2 made up for Doncic’s absence, and Dallas could’ve signed him to a four-year, $55 million contract extension.

Dallas Mavericks: Is Jalen Brunson’s Exit a Big Mistake?
The Dallas Mavericks fans have endured a great deal in recent years. In modern NBA history, no other team moved on from future Basketball Hall of Fame point guards like the Mavericks did. As a result, MFFLs may experience mixed feelings — especially joy and grief — about the NBA Finals.

The San Antonio Spurs have been on the nation’s biggest stage in a 1999 NBA Finals rematch against the New York Knicks. The Spurs and Knicks matchup marked the second time the two teams have met for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. Previously, San Antonio and New York met in 1999, with the Spurs defeating the Knicks in five games.

Whether or not MFFLs cheer for Brunson, Brunson’s exit from Dallas, Texas is potentially the Mavericks’ biggest mistake in recent years. He’s known as a good player on the court and a nice guy off the court. The Mavericks could’ve offered him a four-year, $55 million contract extension, but they didn’t — and not even a sign-and-trade that then-majority owner Mark Cuban reportedly counted on.

The Mavericks simply let Jalen go on his way. And, to add insult to injury, New York also gained a new assistant coach in Jalen’s father, current Knicks assistant coach and former NBA point guard Rick Brunson. Rick, 53, played for the Knicks from 1999 to 2000, with whom he was a member of the 1999 Eastern Conference championship team.

Rick has made public comments on multiple occasions that could’ve been interpreted as him calling out the team, such as March 2025 public comment that had the Mavs handled things differently, his son may have never joined the Knicks.

Mavericks: Is Brunson’s Exit for Real?
The Mavericks let Brunson go on his way. However, he ultimately revealed the real reason why he left Dallas before signing with the Knicks in NBA free agency.

In an appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast, Brunson said, “I really did want to stay in Dallas … I think before my fourth season in Dallas, my last season in Dallas, we tried to extend our contract. Whatever we can get, the most we can get was, like, 4 years and $55 million. We wanted to do that. I wanted to stay there.”

“I thought I would be there for a long time, and I liked my role there … It’s funny because my agent was like, ‘I mean, you can do so much. You can do you can get more.’ I’m saying, like, ‘Well, I just want to be safe. And I’m not trying to gamble right now. This is not something you can really gamble with if it’s out there.'”

Brunson added, “And so, but [the Mavs] were like, ‘We want to see where we’re at like 20, 25 games into the season … But we were like, ‘Alright, well, if we’re not going to do it, I kind of don’t want to do it until after the season. I’m not trying to think about this during the season.”

It’s important to note that the NBA punished the Knicks for alleged tampering after an internal investigation into the Knicks’ signing of Brunson. However, Brunson’s major career move paid off dividends. He became a top talent in New York City, while becoming one of the NBA’s leaders in time of possession.

Where Do the Mavericks Go from Here?
Brunson wasn’t just a former star player for the Mavericks, but also Luka Doncic’s sidekick between 2018 and 2022. He was a solid playmaker by Doncic’s side during the good old days in Dallas. Both star players learned the ropes of the NBA life together. His departure left a leadership void that impacted the Mavericks’ roster to an extent.

The Mavericks’ championship window has been significantly reduced since Brunson’s exit from Dallas. However, the Mavericks can continue to compete — and perhaps contend — by focusing on rebuilding around Cooper Flagg, developing young talent, and making the best of the veteran players.