Jalen Brunson is getting ready for his first game back in Dallas since leaving the Mavericks and joining the Knicks. The Knicks are also returning to Dallas for the first time since a tough loss last year.
Brunson couldn’t play during the Knicks’ last visit to Dallas because of a hip injury. The Knicks lost that game in overtime after a big lead slipped away. Now, with Brunson back in action and the Knicks on a winning streak, they’re set to face the Mavericks again. However, the Mavericks will be without their star player, Luka Doncic, who is recovering from an ankle injury.
Even though Brunson is excited about the game, he still has a lot of respect for his former team. He said, “That place meant a lot to me, it means a lot to me. My first four years [in the NBA], they introduced me to the league, they gave me my chance, they built me up. The organization and those guys over there, they mean a lot to me.”
Jalen Brunson is getting ready for his first game back in Dallas since leaving the Mavericks
There was some drama between the Knicks and the Mavericks last season. The Mavericks missed the playoffs to keep a draft pick from going to the Knicks. Also, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban blamed Brunson’s parents for him joining the Knicks in free agency.
Now, Brunson is having a great season with the Knicks and could be in line for his first All-Star selection. Despite the excitement about the upcoming game, Brunson didn’t want to talk about the tough loss in Dallas last year.
Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau is still unhappy about some bad calls from that game, but the team is focused on the game ahead.
