"His loss is our win" - Knicks fans react to Jalen Brunson, Mark Cuban discussing botched Mavericks negotiation talks

New York Knicks star point guard Jalen Brunson and Dallas Mavericks minority owner Mark Cuban recently settled their differences surrounding Brunson's reason for leaving Dallas. Their candid discussion sparked mixed Knicks fan reactions, with some commending Brunson for calling out his former employer face-to-face.

Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million contract with New York in 2022 NBA free agency, quickly establishing himself as a star-caliber player. Amid Brunson's rise to prominence, Cuban touched on the circumstances of his Mavericks departure.

Last year, the billionaire businessman said their negotiations "went south" after Brunson's parents "took over," adding that "the parents were the issue." Brunson's father, Rick Brunson, has been an assistant coach with New York since 2022. Thus, Cuban's remarks sparked widespread speculation about him orchestrating his son's move to the Knicks.

Jalen Brunson has since said he planned to stay with Dallas long-term, but the franchise was unwilling to offer him a contract extension in time.

On Thursday's "Roommates Show" episode, Brunson and Cuban sorted out their misunderstanding.

Brunson highlighted Cuban's comments about his parents as his main gripe, noting that it felt like a "little jab." The Mavericks minority owner then apologized, citing their "unique negotiation."

The duo seemingly ended their conversation on the same page, with Cuban concluding that he had "no hard feelings at all."

Afterward, several fans on X/Twitter applauded Brunson and Cuban for openly discussing their differences.

"Love that they are brave enough to discuss it openly online. More of this," @ValueSportsFan said.

"I felt you could tell there was some tension when they discussed it, but I give them both credit for discussing it on a podcast. It made it a really riveting discussion, something you rarely see on that type of forum," @gregarmstrong01 wrote.

However, some seemingly felt uncomfortable watching their exchange.

"NGL, this whole thing was awkward," @MadGoodKS said.

"I hate using 'cringy,' but this part of the conversation was so hard to listen to," @BeaniiBrunson wrote.

Meanwhile, others blasted Cuban's character, celebrating Brunson for making his ex-boss own up to his remarks about his parents.

"I wouldn’t watch this episode because Mark Cuban is an a**hole, but I’m glad I found this clip of Brunson calling Cuban out for being an a**hole," @knicksrule33 said.

"His loss is our win," @BrookLOSny wrote.

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Jalen Brunson likens his 2022 free agency decision to Isaiah Hartenstein's Knicks departure

During his conversation with Mark Cuban, Jalen Brunson likened his 2022 free agency decision to his ex-teammate Isaiah Hartenstein leaving New York this offseason.

"I would say it's the same negotiations that we just went through with Isaiah," Brunson said. "I would say it's pretty similar."

Coming off a breakout season with the Knicks, Hartenstein signed a three-year, $87 million contract with the OKC Thunder last month. The deal marked a significant pay raise for the big man, making New York unable to compete with the offer.

Similarly, Brunson earned a substantial pay increase from the Knicks after his standout 2022 NBA playoff run. He averaged 21.6 points per game across 18 outings, helping guide Dallas to the 2022 Western Conference finals.

Brunson's breakout helped him outgrow the four-year, $55 million contract extension he reportedly sought, essentially ending his Mavericks tenure.

However, things seemingly worked out for both sides. Brunson has become New York's franchise player, leading the organization to consecutive second-round postseason appearances. Meanwhile, Dallas is coming off its first NBA Finals appearance since 2011.

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