Jalen Brunson, who signed with the New York Knicks in the summer of 2022, has grown into a superstar guard for the NBA's most popular team. With Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks having the right strategy at the time, Brunson probably wouldn't have worn a Knicks jersey at all.

In the 22-0 season, Brunson stood out as a starter for the Mavericks and one of the best players on the team. In the playoffs, Brunson played well.

2022年是他与独行侠队合同到期的一年，他的薪水将会大幅上涨。2018年的第二轮选秀，布伦森在NBA职业生涯的前四个赛季里赚了大约600万美元。

独行侠队本可以在2022年休赛期之前与布伦森续约；在2021年夏天，布伦森有资格获得一份为期四年、价值5550万美元的续约合同。达拉斯选择不提供长期续约合同，到了第二年夏天，很明显布伦森已经将目光投向了尼克斯队，尼克斯队最近聘请了他的父亲里克担任助理教练，以及他以前的经纪人莱昂·罗斯担任球队总裁。

In an article written by Tim McMahon for ESPN, Rick claimed that the Mavericks offered the right price and that Jalen was willing to re-sign them.

"Man, I know what (Cubaban) is doing," Rick Brunson allegedly told his wife and son in front of a free agent meeting allegedly arranged between Jalen and the Mavericks. "He'd come to New York and say, 'This is a max contract.' I thought to myself, this guy must have a lot of money. He'd come in with a contract with a maximum salary and say, 'What are you going to do?' ’”

据里克说杰伦·布伦森表示他会接受顶薪合同，那将是一份为期五年、价值1.755亿美元的合同。这次会面从未实现，独行侠队取消了它。不久杰伦与尼克斯队签下了一份为期四年、价值1.04亿美元的合同。他与纽约队续签了一份为期四年、价值1.565亿美元的合同，该合同将于下个赛季开始生效。

Rick Brunson said he wanted his son to leave Dallas after feeling disrespectful, saying that Dallas made a higher offer, at least it would make Jalen have to consider whether he was ready to leave for New York.

"But I'm telling you, it's a conversation we've had: Dallas offers the same money or more, and I don't know if he's going to leave. Take out the money! Make things difficult! But you don't. You guys make things easy," said Rick Brunson.

在布伦森的带领下，尼克斯队已经确立了自己作为东部联盟顶级球队之一的地位。达拉斯队一直在应对无数的伤病，在2月份交易了卢卡·东契奇而受到球迷、球员和媒体的嘲笑，不到一年前，他们才自2011年以来首次进入NBA总决赛。