’It Would Have Been Very Good’ — Lakers Star Luka Dončić Reflects on What Could’ve Been With Jalen Brunson in Dallas
· Yahoo Sports
Jalen Brunson improbably led the New York Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973, with his historic 45-point performance in Saturday’s 94-90 series-clinching Game 5 road win over the San Antonio Spurs leaving the NBA community buzzing.
The second-round draft pick gatecrashed the coronation of Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama, garnering the attention of his former Dallas Mavericks co-star Luka Dončić.
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Luka Dončić Reflects on Jalen Brunson Partnership After Knicks Star’s Superb NBA Finals Performance
During an interview in Madrid, where Dončić was serving as a brand ambassador for The One, Jordan Brand, and Nike’s under-18 one-on-one basketball tournament, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar shared that he had already congratulated Brunson on his standout championship run.
“He’s played really well,” Dončić said. “I sent him a message, and he has every reason to be happy.”
The Slovenian sensation, who played for Dallas from 2018 to 2025 before being traded to Los Angeles in February 2025, was then asked what could have been if he and Brunson had stayed with the Mavericks. Dončić believes they would have formed a lethal tandem, as both have since grown from their career experiences.
“We’ve both improved a lot since then. We’re not the same players we used to be. It would have been very good for sure,” Dončić said.
Dončić spent four seasons alongside Brunson in Dallas. As Dončić solidified his status as the Mavericks’ franchise cornerstone, Brunson quietly established himself as the six-time All-Star’s reliable backcourt partner, capable of scoring in bunches whenever needed.
Brunson eventually left Dallas for New York in 2022 free agency and blossomed into one of the league’s top point guards. His claim to the throne was cemented when he spearheaded the Knicks’ 16-3 postseason run to capture the organization’s third title.
Dončić, who led Dallas to the 2024 NBA Finals, where the team lost 4-1 to the Boston Celtics, remains in pursuit of his first championship.
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The 6-foot-8 guard later touched on how difficult it is to win in today’s NBA, noting that the Lakers’ fourth-place finish in the Western Conference required significant effort and sacrifice.
Unfortunately for the two-time NBA scoring champion, he was forced to watch from the sidelines throughout the playoffs after he sustained a Grade 2 left hamstring strain in a regular-season matchup against the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 2.
Dončić stressed that this offseason will be crucial for the Lakers, as he hopes the front office will make the necessary moves to build a championship contender for the 2026-27 season.