Jalen Brunson just led the Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973. His father Rick was there for every step of the way. And as soon as the confetti settled, Rick made sure former Mavericks owner Mark Cuban got the message.
Tom Kludt of New York Magazine reported the exchange. After the final buzzer, Rick Brunson said four simple words: “Tell Mark thank you.”
The context goes back to 2022. Dallas had a chance to lock up Jalen Brunson on a four-year, $55.5 million deal. It fell apart. And Rick Brunson was right in the middle of it.
“We’ve got to figure out if Dallas wants him,” Rick said at the time. Cuban later complained that negotiations went south when “the parents got involved.” He also insisted Dallas never got a chance to match an offer sheet.
That summer, Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the Knicks. From there he turned into the guy who carried New York to the top of the league. The Knicks made the playoffs every year from 2023 through 2026. In the Finals, Brunson dropped 32.6 points, 4.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game against the San Antonio Spurs. He took home Finals MVP.
Cuban’s loss became New York’s gain in a pretty literal way. The Mavs let a future MVP walk because of a negotiating breakdown that Cuban blamed on family involvement. The Brunson family doesn’t seem to hold a grudge. Rick just wanted to say thanks for the opportunity.
For what it’s worth, Cuban hasn’t responded publicly. He sold his majority stake in the Mavericks in late 2023 and has kept a lower profile since. But you have to imagine that “thank you” stings a little every time he hears it.
Rick Brunson isn’t the type to gloat. He’s a former NBA player himself and a Knicks assistant coach now. He watched his son become a legend in New York. And he found the cleanest way possible to remind Cuban what he gave up.
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