The Mavericks may no longer have Luka Doncic and Jalen Brunson, but the friendship between the two former teammates remains as strong as ever.
Brunson finally reached the top of the mountain this month, leading the Knicks to their first NBA championship in more than five decades. One of the people cheering him on from afar was Doncic.
Doncic revealed that he had been in contact with Brunson during New York’s Finals run and reached out after the championship victory, speaking during a recent interview with the Spanish YouTube channel DrafteadosNBA.
The relationship between the two guards dates back to their years together in Dallas, where they formed one of the league’s most promising young backcourts. However, the partnership was short-lived.
The Mavericks allowed Brunson to leave in free agency following the 2022 season after his breakout playoff performance. Less than three years later, Dallas traded Doncic to the Lakers, ending another franchise cornerstone partnership.
Those decisions have continued to draw criticism around the league, especially considering the success both players have found elsewhere.
Despite the circumstances surrounding their departures, the connection between Doncic and Brunson has remained intact.
Doncic also recently revealed during an interview in Slovenia that he did not watch the NBA Finals live because the games were played during the middle of the night overseas. Even so, he continued to follow the series and kept up with the scores while supporting his former teammate from afar.
Brunson’s championship run was another reminder of what Dallas once had. The two guards helped lead the Mavericks to the Western Conference Finals in 2022 before ultimately going their separate ways.
Now, with Brunson finally capturing his first title, the hope around the league is that the roles could eventually reverse.
After congratulating Brunson on his championship, Doncic may someday receive a similar message if he is able to bring a title to Los Angeles.
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