With the NBA regular season coming to an end, it’s time to give out awards to the best individual performances of the year. The Dallas Mavericks’ roller-coaster season means Luka Doncic will have to settle for an All-NBA Team instead of MVP. However, there’s one Maverick being discussed for an award.
Jalen Brunson has taken a big leap this season, averaging career highs in almost every category. The former Villanova star has been hugely important to Dallas and deserves recognition for excelling off the bench.
Leader off the bench
Brunson is capable of being a starting point guard on many NBA teams — just not one that also has Doncic. His main role off the bench is to run the offense while Doncic rests. The drop-off from an MVP candidate to a bench player is surprisingly not much.
Dallas runs a heavy pick-and-roll offense, and Brunson is one of the most efficient pick-and-roll players in the league. At 1.10 points per possession, Brunson’s pick-and-roll is one of the best plays in the league.
While he’ll never be compared to Jason Kidd, Brunson has improved his playmaking. His drive and kick-outs have been a useful weapon for a Dallas team that loves shooting threes. Brunson’s averaging a career-high in assists and usually makes the right decision. From a purely offensive perspective, there’s not a more well-rounded bench player than Brunson.
