Jalen Brunson credits JJ Barea for development during Dallas Mavericks tenure

Jalen Brunson attributes his professional development to his time as a backup guard with the Dallas Mavericks. During his initial seasons, he modeled his approach after JJ Barea, a veteran who served as a primary example of how to perform effectively in a reserve role. Brunson stated that his mindset focused on mastering his duties as a backup to Luka Doncic before seeking a larger role elsewhere. This period allowed him to gain experience that eventually facilitated his transition to a starring position with the New York Knicks starting in 2022. By prioritizing his role at the time, Brunson believes he earned more responsibility throughout his career. He is currently looking ahead to the upcoming season as the Knicks work to defend their recent championship title.

• 3:09 AMYahoo Sports — Jalen Brunson reveals how replicating JJ Barea helped him become a star player