Jalen Brunson arrived at New York Knicks like a dream, sealing a four-year, $104 million contract with the franchise in 2022. Since then, he has proven to be worth every cent, emerging as one of the top guards in the Eastern Conference and elevating to All-Star status. This season, he is averaging 27.6 points, 6.5 assists, and 3.8 rebounds per game. Moreover, he not only leads the team in scoring but also takes charge in off-court leadership. He is the pillar and the glue keeping the talent in MSG intact and thriving.

However, while Brunson’s arrival in New York seems magical, all the credit for it goes to his parents, Sandra and Rick Brunson. If they hadn’t made a pivotal decision early in Jalen’s life, his trajectory to the Big Apple would have changed – or might not be warranted.

When Jalen Brunson was hoping to enter the NBA after his sophomore season, his mom countered the move. Supported by his father, Rick, they believed Jalen needed an additional year for both education and developing basketball IQ. With that, Jalen deliberately declined invitations from prestigious basketball camps like Nike and Adidas, opting to stay on campus during the summer to fulfill the necessary course requirements for his graduation.

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With things on the court, the classroom rendezvous also came easily to Brunson—except for science. Now, as Brunson evolves into a prominent NBA figure, he acts as a role model for youngsters. With that, he emphasizes the payoff of that extra year in his adult life. “How can I push the importance of education if I don’t have my own degree,” Brunson reflects on the significance of his educational journey.

Jalen Brunson opted out of the Dallas Mavericks

During a recent appearance on the ‘All The Smoke’ podcast alongside former NBA players Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson, Jalen Brunson provided a detailed account of the events that led to his arrival in the New York Knicks.

Talking about his days with the Dallas Mavericks, Brunson claimed that he envisioned a long-term future with the franchise. Moreover, he claimed that he thoroughly enjoyed his role, primarily as the backup point guard. Brunson’s time in the spotlight came when he stepped up during Luka Doncic’s injury, posting a series of games averaging around 20 points per game.

Luckily, the Mavericks also wanted Jalen Brunson to stay, with intentions of offering a retaining contract. However, Brunson shared that the approach taken by Dallas drained his patience. Opting to keep their options open, the Mavs postponed extending Brunson until the trade market closed. Initially willing to commit to a bench role with a 4-year, $55 million contract, Brunson felt he had “outgrown” that perspective when a deal finally came to the table.