Mark Cuban's Comments Reignite Controversy with Jalen Brunson

Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban's past remarks about Jalen Brunson's parents resurface during an appearance on Brunson's podcast, prompting an apology and discussion about the Knicks' star's departure from the team.

During a recent appearance on Jalen Brunson's podcast, "Roomates Show," Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban faced questions about comments he made about the star point guard's parents last year. Brunson, who left the Mavericks in free agency to join the New York Knicks, expressed his displeasure with Cuban's remarks, prompting an apology.

In June 2023, after Brunson opted to leave Dallas for New York, Cuban suggested that the negotiations had become difficult when Brunson's parents, Rick and Sandra Brunson, became involved. Cuban stated, "Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over."

Mark Cuban's Comments Reignite Controversy with Jalen Brunson

On Thursday's podcast episode, Brunson confronted Cuban about his comments, saying, "The only thing that I… didn’t like about the whole situation was when Mark said, ‘When the parents got involved, that’s when things got messy. '"

Cuban promptly apologized, saying, "I apologize. If I put you in a certain way, that wasn't the intention. But it was hard to deal with. It was a unique negotiation in a lot of different ways."

Mark Cuban's Comments Reignite Controversy with Jalen Brunson

The Knicks were subsequently penalized by the NBA for tampering in Brunson's negotiations, forfeiting a 2025 second-round pick. However, the signing has proved successful for New York, as Brunson has emerged as one of the league's top scorers and playmakers.

Last season, Brunson led the Knicks to playoff berths and earned his first All-Star appearance and All-NBA second team nod. He also averaged a career-best 28.7 points and 6.7 assists per game, finishing fifth in league MVP voting.

Mark Cuban's Comments Reignite Controversy with Jalen Brunson

In July, Brunson signed a four-year contract extension with the Knicks worth $156.5 million. Meanwhile, Cuban sold his majority stake in the Mavericks last year to casino mogul Miriam Adelson and her family.

Despite his departure from Dallas, Brunson expressed no hard feelings towards Cuban, saying, "There’s definitely no hard feelings at all. But it’s always interesting when your dad and I walk by each other, you know, it’s just like he gives me the eye, I give him the eye, then we smile and then keep on walking, right? And so all is well and ends well…I’m happy for you, the King of New York, and I’m happy for us."

Mark Cuban's Comments Reignite Controversy with Jalen Brunson

The incident highlights the complex nature of negotiations in the NBA, where player relationships, family dynamics, and team interests can all come into play. It remains to be seen how the Mavericks and Brunson's relationship will evolve in the future.