Jalen Brunson's Camp Reportedly 'Laughed' at Mavs' Contract Offer Before Knicks Deal in 2022

The New York Knicks' run to the NBA Finals means Dallas Mavericks fans are once again reliving the franchise's failure to keep guard Jalen Brunson in 2022.

Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million deal with New York that summer, an outcome that felt a fait accompli at the time after Dallas badly botched negotiations with him.

NBA insider Marc Stein reported on the ALL NBA Podcast that Brunson's representatives "laughed" when the Mavs circled back and signaled they'd be willing to sign him for $55.5 million over four years.

That's the most Dallas could've offered Brunson ahead of the 2021-22 season. ESPN's Tim MacMahon reported in April 2022 they "didn't offer it then nor did they engage in negotiations with Brunson's representatives."

It turned out to be a massive unforced error as Brunson played his way into a far bigger contract when he'd eventually hit free agency.

Jalen's father, Rick, told MacMahon in 2025 there was little consideration given to when Dallas tried to re-sign him midway through the 2021-22 campaign.

"That was a 30-second conversation," Rick Brunson said. "I wasn't on the phone, but how I got the message was, 'You guys wouldn't be interested in that deal now, would you?' That's how it was said to me. I just laughed."

Stein suggested the Mavericks could've mended their relationship with Brunson by communicating they'd go well above his market value and table a "a blow-away offer." Seeing if he'd settle for the $55.5 million extension was only going to lead to one result.

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A backcourt with both Brunson and Luka Dončić might've been tricky to manage given how they're both their most effective when they're running the show. Even if he had re-signed, Brunson's long-term future might've been outside of Dallas regardless.

The Mavericks' handling of the situation at least proved to be an example of how not to handle contract negotiations.