Dirk Nowitzki admits he did not expect Jalen Brunson to develop into a franchise player when the guard left the Dallas Mavericks for the New York Knicks in 2022.
Speaking on DLLS Sports, Nowitzki recalled being skeptical about Brunson taking on a leading role in New York, particularly because of his quiet personality and the demands of the market.
“I got to say I was skeptic when he went to New York as a franchise player there in that market. He’s a quiet guy, shy guy to go to that market, in that media market. I was a little worried,” Nowitzki said, via HoopsHype.
Those concerns quickly proved unfounded. Brunson became New York’s primary offensive engine and steadily increased his production after leaving Dallas, culminating in the Knicks winning the 2026 NBA championship.
“But man, has he been unbelievable on and off the floor and really carrying this franchise and so well-deserved to win the championship, bring the championship back there after 50-something years. Finals MVP, it’s been an incredible run,” Nowitzki said.
Brunson’s development has been particularly notable considering his production during his first four seasons with the Mavericks. He averaged 9.3 points and 3.2 assists in 21.8 minutes per game as a rookie in 2018-19 before posting 16.3 points and 4.8 assists in his final Dallas season in 2021-22.
After joining the Knicks, Brunson immediately became a full-time starter and averaged 24.0 points and 6.2 assists in 2022-23. His scoring climbed to 28.7 points per game in 2023-24, when he earned his first All-Star selection and was named to the All-NBA Second Team.
Brunson followed that with 26.0 points and 7.3 assists per game in 2024-25 before averaging 26.0 points and 6.8 assists across 74 games during the 2025-26 regular season.
His postseason production has been even more significant. Brunson averaged 28.4 points and 6.1 assists in 19 playoff games during the Knicks’ 2026 championship run, shooting 46.5% from the field and 84.6% from the free-throw line.
That performance earned Brunson Finals MVP honors as New York defeated San Antonio 4-1 in the championship series.
Nowitzki acknowledged that Brunson’s eventual trajectory was difficult to predict based on his early career, even though he already displayed several qualities that have become central to his game.
“I didn’t see that development coming from him. I knew he was super solid already in his rookie year, he’s smart, he knows how to get to his spots, but I didn’t think he’s going to have a franchise player type ceiling in him,” Nowitzki said.
Brunson entered the NBA as a second-round pick in 2018 but has since established himself as the centerpiece of a championship team, making his rise one of the league’s most significant examples of development beyond draft position.
