The Dallas Mavericks are 7-3. That’s a very respectable record and their best start to a season since 2013-14. With that being said, Luka Doncic hasn’t played up to his true level just yet. That, of course, is saying a lot considering he’s still averaging roughly 25 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists per game. Kristaps Porzingis has also struggled, while new signing Reggie Bullock has yet to impress. One of the Mavericks’ stars thus far has been Jalen Brunson. Selected in the second round of the 2018 NBA Draft, the Mavericks’ second selection after Doncic has been nothing short of spectacular.
Jalen Brunson Continues to Impress
A Look at the Statistics
Brunson is averaging 15 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. Although he’s started a couple of games, the majority of his minutes are coming off the bench. He’s also shooting nearly 50 percent from the field and 35 percent from three. Brunson is the Mavericks’ second-leading scorer behind Doncic. He also has the second-highest PER (Player Efficiency Rating) of any Dallas player playing over 10 minutes per game, behind Doncic of course.
He had a couple of rough games in October, but so far Brunson has made November his own. In a loss versus the Miami Heat, Brunson dropped 25 points and seven rebounds. He shot 10/13 from the field and kept the Mavericks in the game for quite a while.
His best game of the season came in a win versus the San Antonio Spurs. Doncic was struggling and Dallas needed a win after a big loss to Miami. Brunson stepped up without a problem. He scored 31 points and grabbed seven rebounds while shooting 53 percent from the field.
Porzingis was always supposed to be the Mavericks’ second option behind Doncic. He struggles with health, and those injury struggles have clearly affected his play. Brunson, however, is really stepping up and looking more and more like Dallas’ second option.
The Rest of the Season
Brunson really stood out when he was given the chance to start. It remains to be seen whether head coach Jason Kidd will look to that as a sign to switch the starting lineup. A move like that will certainly boost the starting lineup, but it could very well harm the team’s bench play.
This would leave guards such as Bullock, Frank Ntilikina, and Trey Burke as the primary scoring options off the bench. Obviously, this isn’t ideal for Dallas.
With that being said, Dallas has plenty of versatile players who can play multiple positions. This will allow them to keep Brunson on the bench, but give him the real possibility of playing well over 30 minutes a night. He’s shown the ability to play alongside Doncic in the backcourt, but he’s also very much able to play as the lead point guard when Doncic sits.
It’s also important to note that Brunson is playing in a contract year. If he continues to operate at this level, he should be able to attract hefty interest and a big contract. Whether that is with Dallas or not remains to be seen.
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