SAN FRANCISCO — The 2022 playoffs has frequently been referenced as the introduction of Jalen Brunson to the masses.
It was certainly the point that the Dallas Mavericks realized their epic blunder for not originally offering him the $55 million to re-sign.
With Luka Doncic injured, Brunson carried the Mavericks through the first round — averaging nearly 28 points on 48 percent shooting against the favored Utah Jazz — before serving as Doncic’s wingman to a conference semis victory against the Suns.
But then the Mavericks were pummeled in the conference finals by the Warriors, a series that lasted just five games and ended with Brunson shooting 3-for-10 in the clincher.
In that series, no player guarded Brunson more than Draymond Green, a strong and versatile power forward. According to NBA.com, Brunson, who otherwise played pretty well against the Warriors, shot just 41 percent overall and 29 percent on 3s with Green as his defender.
It became a lesson that’s applicable today as Brunson, now the focal point of scouting reports, has faced an array of defenders. He’s learned and thrived in those situations.
“Obviously having Draymond defend me, it was different,” Brunson said before facing Green and the Warriors on Monday night at the Chase Center. “Like you said, you have to adjust. For me it made me better. It made me understand what I had to work on to be better. One of those things that makes you rethink, what are you going to do to be better?”
Brunson isn’t one to divulge anything in terms of strategy or game-planning. So when asked Monday what he did to get better after the Warriors series, the point guard responded, “Worked harder.”
But whatever the reason, Brunson has certainly grown.
It’s become a necessity toward a higher level of stardom.
On Saturday, Sacramento coach Mike Brown said he blitzed Brunson in such a way only comparable to Steph Curry. Brunson still finished with 42 points — two days after he dropped 45 — and was rewarded with Eastern Conference’s Player of the Week honors before tipoff Monday.
“Give a lot of credit to coach Mike Brown. Been around for a long time, coached a lot of players, done a lot of things. It’s kind of like an honor to be thought of that way,” Brunson said about the Curry comparison. “I still have a long way to be where I want to be. And it’s great to hear but I can’t let it affect me any way, positive or negative.”
With a move that exhibited Brunson’s elevated basketball IQ, Brunson topped that Kings performance off by fooling defender Keon Ellis into thinking a screen was coming. Ellis glanced over and Brunson blew by him for the dagger.
The play went viral and wasn’t flattering for Ellis.
“I don’t feel bad, but it’s part of the age we’re in right now. We’re in the social media age when everything is heightened,” Brunson said. “But it was just one play. It doesn’t define what that game was. He was playing great defense all game. I talked to him after the game. I said, ‘Yo, you competed, you played great and I have a lot of respect for you.’ That’s how I truly felt.”
It’s safe to say Green, a veteran of almost every NBA circumstance and former Defensive Player of the Year, isn’t falling for such bait.
And at least in their previous matchup with the Knicks last month, the Warriors swarmed while mostly using Moses Moody, not Green, to help hold Brunson to 11 of 25 shooting with four turnovers.
“You look at their roster, their lineup. They have [Jonathan] Kuminga. They have [Andrew] Wiggins. They have Draymond. They have Klay [Thompson]. Potentially all at the same time,” Donte DiVincenzo said. “So you have all those guys that can switch, guard multiple positions. So I think we just have to be ready for that.”
Brunson, according to DiVincenzo, has always been ready.
And is always learning — from successes and failures.
“Higher volume, higher efficiency. As he’s progressed in the league, he’s gotten more touches, more good looks, more plays,” DiVincenzo said. “And he’s been damn good at it as he progresses.”