Over the last three seasons, the NBA Finals have seen both Jalen Brunson and Luka Dončić put on a masterclass under the brightest lights. While the latter was unable to win the title, the New York Knicks ended a 53-year championship drought this year.
However, throughout the ordeal, the Dallas Mavericks look like the biggest losers. Losing both players for virtually nothing in return, it also came from the mastermind of former general manager Nico Harrison.
Jalen Brunson Puts the Blame on Nico Harrison
Drafted in the second round of the iconic 2018 NBA Draft, it took a while for Brunson to establish himself as a serious part of the rotation. A bench piece even at his apex with the Mavericks, he truly showed his potential during their run to the Conference Finals in 2022.
With Dončić out of the lineup with an injury to start the first round, he was able to lead Dallas to a 2-1 series lead over the Utah Jazz. Still, the organization chose not to bring him back, with the Knicks swooping in to sign him to a four-year, $104 million contract.
Despite having the chance to bring him back, the Mavericks looked the other way. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for him to prove that it was the wrong decision by Harrison, as he established himself as a truly elite point guard in short order.
During his four years in New York, he’s already been named to three All-Star games, while averaging 26.3 points and 6.8 assists in that timeframe. A Clutch Player of the Year award on his resume underscores his efficacy at the end of games.
Statistically, the most clutch player in the NBA over the last four seasons, his exploits have been critical for the Knicks, particularly in the playoffs, helping guide them to a Conference Finals appearance and a championship in successive seasons.
Dončić, on the other hand, was the product of arguably the most bizarre trade in history. In the middle of the night, without listening to any other offers, Harrison pulled the trigger to send him to the Los Angeles Lakers.
In exchange, the Mavericks brought in a 31-year-old, injury-prone Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and just one first-round pick. The biggest piece of the puzzle has already been traded away from Dallas after suiting up for just 29 games.
In the meantime, Dončić led the league in scoring in his first full year with the Lakers, while also adding his sixth first-team All-NBA honor to his resume. In both cases, the mastermind behind the changes to the Mavericks roster was Harrison.
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And Brunson, fresh off winning Finals MVP, reiterated that stance. In an exclusive interview with Sports Illustrated, he placed the blame for driving both players out of Dallas on a single individual.
When asked, “They were saying that Dallas, Nico, they fumbled the two of you,” Brunson immediately chuckled, before adding, “Well, they made decisions, and I’ll leave it at that. They made their decisions.”
Now that both players are near the top of the NBA pyramid, there has to be a lot of regret for the Mavericks. All they can hope for is that their new core, centered around Cooper Flagg, can guide them back to the promised land.
