Jalen Brunson and Mark Cuban shared a somewhat awkward, tense exchange about Brunson’s 2022 free agency exit from the Dallas Mavericks on Brunson’s “Roommates” podcast.
Brunson, of course, left the Mavericks for the New York Knicks in 2022 for a four-year, $ 104 million contract.
Brunson has been eligible to sign a four-year, $ 56 million extension during the season, but both sides have told different versions of whether it was offered or if Brunson was willing to sign it. The Mavericks could have matched or exceeded what Brunson was offered in free agency in the summer of 2022.
But in April of 2023, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told reporters that the Mavs were never given a chance to retain Brunson, suggesting Brunson’s mind was made up on joining the Knicks.
Cuban blamed Brunson’s parents, including his father, Rick, a former NBA player who is now an assistant coach with the Knicks.
“Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over,” Cuban told reporters.
On the “Roommates” podcast, both Brunson and Cuban told their versions of what happened that summer and where miscommunication led to Brunson leaving Dallas. The exchange was good-natured, with Brunson explaining that he and Cuban have already had separate conversations to hash out what happened that summer. However, the conversation took a slightly uncomfortable turn when Brunson brought up Cuban’s comments about his parents.
“The only thing I didn’t like about the whole situation was when Mark said, ‘When the parents got involved, that’s when things got messy,'” Brunson said. “That was the one thing I was like — I kinda was like, damn, that was a little jab.”
Cuban responded, saying he didn’t mean for it to be offensive, though he didn’t clarify what he really meant.
“It wasn’t really,” Cuban said. “No. I didn’t want to go there here. It wasn’t a jab at all. I mean, there’s no reason to talk about any of that stuff. But it wasn’t just a jab, JB.”
Brunson said that he got over the comment, but wanted to share that it bothered him when Cuban said it.
“Obviously, that’s my parents, and so—”
“I apologize,” Cuban said. “If I put you in a certain way, that wasn’t the intention.
“But it was hard to deal with. It was a unique negotiation in a lot of different ways.”
After Brunson said both parties have moved on, Cuban added that things remain awkward between him and Rick Brunson.
“It’s always interesting when your dad and I walk by each other. It’s just like, he gives me the eye, I give him the eye, then we smile and keep on walking,” Cuban said, laughing. “All’s well that ends well.”
“Yup,” Brunson said, flatly.
Brunson’s free agency departure has turned out to be one of the biggest free agency moves in NBA history. He has become an All-Star and franchise player, helping revitalize the Knicks.
The Mavericks missed the playoffs entirely in the season after Brunson left, with some late-season tanking that prevented a draft pick they owed the Knicks from conveying — something Cuban denied he did to hurt the Knicks.
Of course, Dallas eventually ended up trading for Kyrie Irving and re-shaping the roster. They made the NBA Finals this year.
“I’m happy for you, the king of New York, and I’m happy for us,” Cuban said on the podcast.
Both sides have seemingly moved on and are now in good places, but one gets the feeling that both sides will never quite agree on what exactly took place that summer.
The exchange can be seen below, with Brunson’s comments beginning at 50:45.
