Breaking: Jalen Brunson Says The Mavericks Rejected Him Twice On A Four-Year, $55 Million Contract Extension

In a recent appearance on the ‘All the Smoke’ podcast, New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson shared insights into his time with the Dallas Mavericks, revealing the team’s reluctance to extend his contract. Brunson disclosed that he twice approached the Mavericks with a four-year, $55 million contract extension, but both times, the team declined. Eventually, Brunson signed a $104 million contract with the Knicks in the summer of 2022.

“I really did want to stay in Dallas,” Brunson said. “Before my last season in Dallas, we tried to extend our contract. The most we could get was four years, $55 million. I wanted to do that, I wanted to stay there, and I thought I’d be there for a really long time. My agent was like, ‘You could get more, you could get more’ but I’m saying I want to be safe… but they wanted to see where they were at like 20–25 games in the season. And then we get there and we go back and say, ‘if the deal is still there, we are thinking about it, and I’ll do it right now.’ Still, it was a no. Then the deal came on the table after the trade deadline and I was like, no. I think I’ve outgrown that now.”

Despite his impressive performance with the Mavericks, where he averaged 16.3 points, 4.8 assists, and 0.8 steals per game on 50.2% shooting, Brunson chose to bet on himself and seek a better offer elsewhere. This decision has proven fruitful, as he has excelled with the Knicks, earning his first All-Star selection this season.

Brunson’s departure from the Mavericks has left a void, as he has emerged as a key player for the Knicks, alongside Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, and Mitchell Robinson. His rise to stardom has reinvigorated the Knicks and propelled them to success, including a strong playoff run last season.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks’ decision to let Brunson go has not yielded the desired results. While Kyrie Irving, who was brought in to replace Brunson, has shown flashes of brilliance, his inconsistent availability due to injuries and personal reasons has hindered the team’s performance. Irving has only played in 33 of the Mavericks’ games this season, leaving the team struggling for a playoff spot.

In hindsight, retaining Brunson and bolstering the team’s defense could have put the Mavericks in a better position, potentially improving their chances of winning an NBA championship.