"He's a Top 3 pick" - Mark Cuban admits underestimating Jalen Brunson's potential amid Knicks' resurgence
Jalen Brunson has taken his game to another level since departing the Dallas Mavericks for the New York Knicks in 2022 free agency. However, according to Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban, he never foresaw the star point guard becoming an All-NBA-level player.
After being selected No. 33 by Dallas in the 2018 NBA draft, Brunson spent the first four years of his career with the franchise. During that span, he primarily came off the bench.
However, Brunson broke out in Year 4, establishing himself as the Mavericks' clear-cut No. 2 scoring option in the 2022 playoffs. Over 18 games, he averaged 21.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, shooting 46.6% as Dallas made a surprise Western Conference finals run.
The following offseason, New York rewarded Brunson with a four-year, $104 million contract, with many considering it an overpay. However, he has since become the Knicks' franchise player, earning his first All-Star selection and an All-NBA second team nod this past season. He also led New York within one win of its first conference finals berth since 2000.
On "The Daily Show" on Tuesday, the show's host, prominent Knicks fan Jon Stewart, asked Cuban if he "had any idea [Brunson] would become this All-NBA phenomenon." He responded bluntly, citing Brunson's draft position.
Cuban added that the 2018 draft would have played out differently if opposing teams knew Brunson's potential.
"No idea, I mean he was talented, but he was picked in the second round," Cuban said. "If everybody knew, he would have been a Top 5 pick. I mean, if you redraft that draft, other than Luka [Doncic], he is a Top 3 or 5 pick. But more credit to him, he worked on it."
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The 2018 draft featured numerous elite players, including Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Trae Young, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Mikal Bridges. So, Cuban proclaiming Brunson a Top 3-worthy pick in a hypothetical redraft scenario is high praise.
However, after Doncic and Gilgeous-Alexander, two superstar-caliber players, most would probably agree that Brunson has a strong case for being the draft's third-best player.
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Mark Cuban says Knicks fans regularly thank him for Jalen Brunson
During his interview with Jon Stewart, Mark Cuban also touched on the fan reception he receives in New York, given the Mavericks and Knicks' history.
Seemingly to Stewart's surprise, Cuban highlighted New Yorkers' tendency to display kindness toward him.
"I like to walk in New York, right, and just today, walking down the street, [a fan said], 'Yeah, Cuban, we love you!' It's crazy," Cuban said. "Literally, great basketball fans here, and I get all kinds of love."
However, Cuban noted that since Dallas lost Jalen Brunson, most Knicks fans typically express gratitude for their team's franchise player.
"Yeah, but now it's more thanks for JB, right? But yeah, that's what I get," Cuban said.
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