Mark Cuban Blames Jalen Brunson’s Dad, Rick, for His Mavericks’ Departure

• Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has blamed Jalen Brunson's parents for his Mavs exit
• Instead of Dallas signing Brunson to a long-term deal, he went on to sign a lucrative deal with the New York Knicks
• The guard has thrived in New York, averaging 24 points per game and helping the Knicks seal a playoff berth

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has revealed Jalen Brunson's parents made it hard for them to re-sign him before he left for the New York Knicks last summer.

The guard was eligible to sign a four-year extension worth up to $55.6 million before hitting free agency last summer. He signed a four-year $104 million deal with the Knicks without a counteroffer from the Mavericks.

Brunson is having a phenomenal season with the Knicks, averaging 24.2 points and 6.2 assists for the 46-33 Knicks. He is one of the major reasons why they've secured a playoff spot, per Dallas News.

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The 26-year-old spent four seasons with the Mavericks, posting 11.9 points and 3.7 assists per game. His breakout season came last season, mostly in the playoffs, where he helped Dallas get to the conference finals, per SI.

Cuban on Brunson

Speaking before Dallas beat the Sacramento Kings, Cuban denied claims that Brunson was willing to sign the four-year $56 million extension with the Mavs in January last year.

He added that negotiations with the guard changed when Jalen's father, Rick became more involved. He stated Jalen's agent Aaron Mintz told the billionaire to speak with Rick instead of him.

"Where it went south was when Rick took over, when the parent took over, or parents took over," via ESPN.

He said if he'd known the bid, he would've paid it. The 2011 NBA champions owned Brunson's Bird rights and could have offered more money than New York and a fifth year on the deal.

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“We didn’t know what the bid was,” he said. “They never gave us a number. Knowing the numbers now, I would have paid it in a heartbeat. But he wouldn’t have come, anyway,” per Dallas News.

Brunson has strong ties to the Knicks. Their president, Leon Rose, is Brunson's godfather and was his first agent. Rick Brunson was Rose's first player client and was hired as an assistant coach before free agency. He is working under Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau for the third time.

Cuban wants Irving to stay

Sports Brief earlier reported on Cuban saying he wants Dallas guard Kyrie Irving to stay with the Mavericks.

Irving will be a free agent in the summer, and the Lakers will reportedly make a move for him in the summer.

Dallas can offer the 31-year-old a five-year $272 million deal more than any other team due to owning his Bird rights.