Mark Cuban still seems to have former Dallas Mavericks point guard Jalen Brunson on his mind.
Brunson agreed to a four-year contract with the New York Knicks during free agency last year.
Cuban held an impromptu press session Wednesday night before the Mavs played the Sacramento Kings. When Cuban spoke to reporters, he blamed Jalen Brunson’s father, Rick, for the point guard’s departure.
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Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban looks on during the first half of an NBA game at the Footprint Center on October 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The Knicks hired Rick as an assistant last summer.
«Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the father took over, or the fathers took over,» Cuban said.
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Cuban also refuted the idea that Brunson was willing to sign a four-year, $56 million contract extension with Dallas last year. However, Rick and Jalen previously said the point guard was seriously considering signing that deal with the Mavs.
Cuban shared text messages from Mavs general manager Nico Harrison and Brunson’s agent Aaron Mintz with reporters.
«‘We’re not going to make a decision on JB based on what Aaron says his dad wants in July,'» Cuban said, citing a text message from Harrison. «And Nico at the time was saying, this is February, ‘I agree with you, but I think New York is too tied to his family to get over it.'»
He also mentioned that the Mavericks were not given a chance to trade the 26-year-old before he signed a contract with New York in free agency. Brunson signed with the Knicks on June 30, which was the first day of free agency.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban looks on during the first half of an NBA game at the Footprint Center on October 19, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Mavericks 107-105. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
«We didn’t know what the offer was,» Cuban said. «They never gave us a number. Knowing the numbers now, I would have paid for it in a heartbeat, but he wouldn’t have come anyway. There’s just no possible way it was money.»
«I mean, there was no negotiation. They didn’t give us a number,» he continued. «I mean, you would think that when you’re the starting team and you can match anything, that’s how it works, right? You have a relationship with the agent and they want to [to] at least give yourself a chance because you helped develop the player. You had it for four years. Okay, let’s work together.»
The NBA conducted a tampering investigation that resulted in the Knicks losing a second-round draft pick in 2025.
The Mavericks are coming to the end of a season that fell short of expectations. The chances of the team qualifying for the play-in tournament are slim. Last year, the Mavericks advanced to the Western Conference finals.
Jalen Brunson #13 of the Dallas Mavericks brings the ball up court during the game against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on January 14, 2022 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)
After Wednesday’s win over the Kings, the Mavericks improved their record to 38-42 and currently sit 11th in the Western Conference standings.
On Tuesday, superstar Luka Doncic was candid about how much Brunson’s departure has impacted the team.
«A lot,» he said. «I mean, incredible guy, incredible player, for sure.»
Dallas tried to fill Brunson’s void by trading for Kyrie Irving, but he hasn’t given the team much momentum on the court.
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However, Cuban seems intent on keeping Irving in Dallas going forward.
«I would love for him to stay safe,» Cuban said. «I would love to have him. I want him to stay safe, and I think we have a good opportunity. I think he’s happy here. He tells me he’s happy here and I get along with him very well. I think he’s a good guy. All I can To tell you is that everything I thought I knew about Kyrie because everything I read was 100 percent wrong.»