Two years ago, Jalen Brunson left the Mavericks for the Knicks. At the time, New York management had put $100 million on the table to attract Luka Doncic's understudy, and Mark Cuban had regretted that his franchise could not match the offer and deliver its arguments.
“It all went downhill when Rick took control, when the parents got involved.”explained Mark Cuban, targeting Jalen's father, best friend of Knicks president Leon Rose. “We weren't going to make such a big decision after what Aaron told us. [Mintz, son agent] about what his father wanted in July. And Nico [Harrison, le GM des Mavs] told me that the interest in New York was too closely tied to his family to be overcome.”
A low blow
Clearly, family had taken precedence over athleticism in this departure, and Cuban had lost his point guard without compensation. Fortunately, two years later, both franchises have never been in better shape. New York is very close to the top of the East, and Dallas lost in the NBA Finals.
“All’s well that ends well… I’m happy for the king. You’re the king of New York, and I’m happy for us.” Cuban, guest of the Josh Hart and Jalen Brunson podcast. But the latter is angry with his former boss for the words used at the time. “The only thing I didn't like was when you said things go to hell when parents get involved. That was a low blow…”
Cuban's Apology
Cuban assures that he did not intend to hurt his former player. “It wasn’t, and I don’t want to get into it here. There’s no reason for us to talk about it here. But it wasn’t a low blow, Jalen. It really wasn’t.”
The Knicks point guard took it as a personal attack. “I say this in passing… I felt it like that.”
Cuban cuts it off: “I apologize. That wasn't my intention. But it was difficult to manage a negotiation that was only one way…” To which Brunson replied: “It was the same type of discussion as with Isaiah Hartenstein this year. It's pretty similar. Well, that's in the past.”
The final word for Cuban. “I'm happy for you, we've stayed in touch, and there's definitely no hard feelings. But it's always interesting when your dad and I cross paths, you know, it's like he winks at me, I wink at him, and then we smile and go on our way, right?”
