Jalen Brunson is now one of the NBA’s biggest stars. But during his time with the Dallas Mavericks, he had a very different mindset. During his recent appearance on the Road Trippin’ Show via YouTube, Brunson talked about how he saw his role in Dallas. 

Jalen Brunson said he never expected to become a star right away. Instead, he wanted to focus on helping the team in whatever role Dallas gave him.

“My mindset was always just, ‘Hey, I'm filling JJ Barea's role,” Brunson said. “He came off the bench for Dallas. He did all these great things for Dallas. That's where I see myself. I'm gonna work to be better, but that's where I see myself.”

Brunson did not demand a bigger role. He first wanted to do his job well and help the team. In the same show, hosted by Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Kendrick Perkins and Allie Clifton, he also explained how a player can earn more chances by doing well in his current role.

“The more you show in your role, the longer your leash gets, the more you're able to do,” Brunson said. 

Brunson said players should not always tell coaches what they can do. Instead, they should first do what the team asks them to do and do it well.

“Do what's asked of you first. Perfect it. Master it,” Brunson said. 

According to Brunson, this can help a player earn more trust. Once the team trusts him, he may get more chances to show his skills.

That can also help a player discover new things about his own game. For Brunson, the message is to do your job well, earn trust, and let bigger opportunities come naturally.

From Barea’s role to NBA star 

According to a report by HITC’s Aaditya Krishnamurthy, Brunson joined the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic in 2018 after Dallas picked him in the second round.

Doncic was always seen as the team’s main star. Brunson, meanwhile, slowly showed his value to the team.

Krishnamurthy pointed out that Brunson became very important during Dallas’ run to the 2022 Western Conference Finals. That playoff run showed that Brunson could do much more than the role he once thought he would have.

That season became a big turning point in his career. Brunson left Dallas that summer and signed with the New York Knicks, his hometown team.

Since then, Brunson has grown into a major NBA star. He has played a key role in the Knicks’ success and eventually helped them win their first NBA championship in 53 years.

Looking back, Brunson’s mindset in Dallas makes his journey even more interesting. He did not try to become a star right away. He focused on his role, earned trust, and slowly became much more than he first expected.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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