Doncic on Brunson: “He’s always had a winning mentality”
Jalen Brunson’s rise in New York continues to fuel Dallas’ regrets. A story that began alongside Luka Doncic has now become one of the biggest what-ifs in recent Mavericks history
Today, Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson compete in completely different worlds – one in the Western Conference, the other a newly crowned NBA champion in the East – but the echo of the New York Knicks’ title run has once again put the spotlight on one of the league’s most successful partnerships of the past decade.
At the peak of Brunson’s career, crowned NBA Finals MVP after ending New York’s decades-long championship drought, one of the most genuine and heartfelt tributes came from the star of the Los Angeles Lakers, proving that the mutual respect forged in Dallas remains as strong as ever.
Speaking to Drafteados, the Slovenian superstar praised his former teammate while gracefully dismissing any notion of jealousy or resentment:
First of all, Jalen is a great guy. He has a winning mentality that separates him from everyone else. We stay in touch all the time. We even talked before the final game of the Finals – I told him there was just one more push left. And of course, right after the win, I congratulated him on winning the title
Luka Doncic
The roots of that relationship trace back to the 2018 NBA Draft, when both arrived in Dallas and helped elevate the franchise from the bottom tier of the West to a Western Conference Finals appearance.
That partnership, abruptly ended by a separation many analysts still consider one of the biggest strategic mistakes in recent Mavericks history, helped shape Brunson into the player he is today.
Watching him triumph in New York as the unquestioned leader – the player who guided the Knicks through the legendary 29-point comeback in Game 4 – only confirmed what Doncic always knew: Brunson is a pure competitor, a leader who elevates those around him and never backs down from a challenge.
The real irony, however, lies in the contrasting paths of the two stars. While Brunson enjoys life as the undisputed king of Madison Square Garden, the pressure in Los Angeles now falls squarely on the Lakers’ front office.
Doncic has embraced that same relentless mentality that refuses to accept defeat, but the structural limitations of the Lakers’ roster forced him to watch the Finals from afar. It promises to be a pivotal summer in California. It will now be up to Rob Pelinka to take the lesson coming from New York and finally give Luka the supporting cast needed to turn the Lakers into a legitimate title contender – especially with the looming uncertainty surrounding LeBron James’ future – following the blueprint of the miracle accomplished by his former running mate.