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During the 2021-22 NBA season, the Dallas Mavericks were looking to take the next step with a team that was rebuilding around emerging superstar Luka Doncic.
The Mavs lacked offensive firepower other than him but that season saw a young player emerge in guard Jalen Brunson, who averaged 16.3 points per game in the regular season and 21.6 points per game in the playoffs.
Unfortunately for Dallas, Brunson signed with the New York Knicks in the summer of 2022 and has since gone from a budding standout to a full-fledged superstar.
Mavericks co-owner Mark Cuban recently revealed to Brunson the scouting report the team had him when it drafted the guard out of Villanova in 2018.
“A little bit chubby, not quite as fast, not super athletic, but he’s a winner,” Cuban said, via Roommates Show.
Mark Cuban on Jalen Brunson’s scouting report:
“A little bit chubby, not quite as fast, not super athletic, but he’s a winner.”
Presented by @FanaticsBook
Watch the full episode here: https://t.co/q9bUkveGUj pic.twitter.com/aQT5QhcYc3
— Roommates Show (@Roommates__Show) August 29, 2024
One can only imagine what could’ve been had Brunson remained in Dallas.
During the 2022-23 season, his first in New York, Brunson zoomed to 24.0 points and 6.2 assists per game while leading his new team to its first playoff series victory in 10 years.
This past season, he upped his scoring to 28.7 points per game and scored at least 40 points in five of his 13 playoff contests as he took the Knicks to Game 7 of the second round.
Now, New York is a legitimate championship contender with Brunson and his former Villanova teammates Josh Hart, Donte DiVincenzo and new acquisition Mikal Bridges.
Of course, the Mavericks are coming off a trip to the 2024 NBA Finals, in part because in February 2023 they recovered from Brunson’s departure by acquiring Kyrie Irving, arguably a superior player.
Along with Donic and Irving, Dallas now also has four-time NBA champion Klay Thompson after acquiring the former Golden State Warriors star this offseason.
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