11-03-2021, 01:19 PM
Hollinger's latest article on 7 players you might not know but need to.
Brunson is listed. Here are the others: Desmond Bane, Cole Anthony, Javonte Green, Raul Neto, Richaun Holmes Cam Reddish.
Jalen Brunson, Dallas
A fourth-year pro on a minimum contract after slipping to the second round in the Luka Doncic draft (overall, a not-shabby night for the Mavs), Brunson was shunted to the side in Dallas’ first-round playoff loss of the Clippers last season. However, it’s become increasingly apparent that he will be a vital cog if the Mavs are to do anything interesting this year.
With Kristaps Porziņģis sidelined at the moment and seemingly permanently questionable going forward, Brunson is the player who has to assume the mantle of Dallas’ second threat. Despite his small stature and lack of elite athleticism, Brunson is up to the challenge thanks to his craft and finishing skill. He shot 40.5 percent from 3 last year and is at 45.5 percent so far this year, but his real asset is his ability to generate shots for others — he’s averaging three assists for every turnover thus far.
Even in an offense monopolized by Doncic, that shot creation is valuable in a Dallas offense starved for secondary threats. In addition to being a second-side weapon once Luka gives up the ball, Brunson’s ability to run the point allows Dallas to post up Luka against power forwards utilize Doncic in other ways and should prevent opponents from loading up early double-teams on the Mavs’ Slovenian star. Brunson has also shown he can keep things rolling with the second unit when Doncic is on the sideline, a critical failing in the playoffs a year ago.
Brunson’s continued solid play also makes him important at another level — he’s an unrestricted free agent after the season and is eligible for an extension that tops out at $12.6 million a year. Dallas doesn’t have a lot of cap-room scenarios, so how the Mavs handle his future will be a critical decision.
Brunson is listed. Here are the others: Desmond Bane, Cole Anthony, Javonte Green, Raul Neto, Richaun Holmes Cam Reddish.
Jalen Brunson, Dallas
A fourth-year pro on a minimum contract after slipping to the second round in the Luka Doncic draft (overall, a not-shabby night for the Mavs), Brunson was shunted to the side in Dallas’ first-round playoff loss of the Clippers last season. However, it’s become increasingly apparent that he will be a vital cog if the Mavs are to do anything interesting this year.
With Kristaps Porziņģis sidelined at the moment and seemingly permanently questionable going forward, Brunson is the player who has to assume the mantle of Dallas’ second threat. Despite his small stature and lack of elite athleticism, Brunson is up to the challenge thanks to his craft and finishing skill. He shot 40.5 percent from 3 last year and is at 45.5 percent so far this year, but his real asset is his ability to generate shots for others — he’s averaging three assists for every turnover thus far.
Even in an offense monopolized by Doncic, that shot creation is valuable in a Dallas offense starved for secondary threats. In addition to being a second-side weapon once Luka gives up the ball, Brunson’s ability to run the point allows Dallas to post up Luka against power forwards utilize Doncic in other ways and should prevent opponents from loading up early double-teams on the Mavs’ Slovenian star. Brunson has also shown he can keep things rolling with the second unit when Doncic is on the sideline, a critical failing in the playoffs a year ago.
Brunson’s continued solid play also makes him important at another level — he’s an unrestricted free agent after the season and is eligible for an extension that tops out at $12.6 million a year. Dallas doesn’t have a lot of cap-room scenarios, so how the Mavs handle his future will be a critical decision.
![[-]](https://www.mavsboard.com/images/collapse.png)