Jalen Brunson has been on fire. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images Dallas owner Mark Cuban earlier this month claimed the Mavericks did not have a chance to negotiate with Brunson before he signed a four-year, $104 million deal with the Knicks.
In fact, Cuban shifted the blame onto Brunson’s father Rick, claiming things “went south” when he took over the contract negotiations.
Although Jalen Brunson revealed last month in an interview with Bleacher Report that he wanted to stay put and would have done so for half of what he signed with the Knicks for.
“There were two times that I thought we had offers on the table before the season, and then around, I think December or January, they looked the other way,” Brunson said.
“They had every right in the world to do so. I don’t blame them for making any business decisions. That’s on them.
“… I wanted that role of being with the Mavericks for the long haul of my career,” Brunson said. “I truly loved that place.”
Jalen Brunson stepped up. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images The Mavericks could have kept Brunson for $55 million ($A82m) over four years but instead lost the guard, later needing to make up for the mistake by trading for Kyrie Irving.
Now Brunson is showing just what the Mavericks are missing out on and on the biggest stage, leading the Knicks in points, assists and steals this playoffs.
“Jalen Brunson, still, after this whole season, underrated,” Michael Wilbon said on ESPN last week.
“If you are the Dallas Mavericks front office, and you’re watching any of this, you have to just feel stupid. To let that kid go, just entering the prime of his career, just ramping up. That’s amazing. He is tremendous.”
New York, which scored a dominant 99-79 victory in game three, looked poised for another big win after roaring to a 15-point lead in the second quarter.
But after the Knicks led by nine points at half-time, Cleveland fought back with a big third quarter, outscoring the hosts 26-19.
That helped the Cavs sneak into a narrow lead late in the third, but a sustained rally by the Knicks in the fourth settled a pulsating contest.
Brunson was one of four players in double figures with R.J. Barrett providing offensive support with 26 points.
Mills dropped twice in one quarter | 00:26
Josh Hart added 19 while Mitchell Robinson chipped in with 12 points and 11 rebounds to leave the Knicks firmly on course for an Eastern Conference semi-finals showdown with either Milwaukee or Miami.
Darius Garland led the Cleveland scoring with 23 points but Donovan Mitchell had a game to forget after finishing with just 11 points. The Cavs playmaker was restricted to just two points in the second half.
The series now heads back to Cleveland for game five.
