Jalen Brunson had the perfect chance to take a friendly shot at Luka Doncic, and he did not waste it.
The Knicks star was smiling when he said it.
That is why the line worked.
Jalen Brunson jokes about Luka Doncic
During a lighthearted kid interview, Brunson was asked to name the most famous person on his phone. His answer quickly turned into a joke at the expense of his former Dallas Mavericks teammate.
“Most famous person on my phone? That’s a good question. Probably a basketball player. I would say Luka probably. I’m not a fan of Luka, he’s actually one of the worst teammates I’ve ever had (laughs).”
The young interviewer then pushed the bit further by mocking Doncic’s defense, which prompted Brunson to defend him with another smile.
“He plays a little defense; he tries. Oh wow.”
The joke worked because Brunson and Doncic have years of trust behind them. They entered the NBA together in 2018, with Doncic arriving as Dallas’ franchise talent and Brunson coming in as the No. 33 pick after winning at Villanova.
Brunson spent much of his Mavericks tenure behind Doncic in the offensive hierarchy, first as a backup guard and later as a crucial second creator. He left Dallas for New York in 2022, but the friendship carried on.
Brunson later called Doncic “my brother,” saying they got drafted together and that sharing the court with him was always special. Doncic has returned that respect, calling Brunson “my guy” this season and saying they have “all the respect, all the love in the world” for each other.
Luka Doncic’s defense joke misses the bigger picture
The defensive joke was playful, and the bigger criticism around Doncic often goes too far. He will always be targeted more than elite point-of-attack stoppers, yet the numbers do not support the idea that he gives nothing.
One Lakers-focused analysis noted that concerns about a Doncic and Austin Reaves backcourt were viewed internally as overstated, especially if Los Angeles improves at wing and rim protection. The Lakers also had a 29-game stretch ranking 12th in defensive rating while pairing that backcourt with a top-six offense.
Another statistical breakdown had Doncic at a 115.3 defensive rating while the Lakers sat around 116.6 as a team, suggesting his individual profile was not sinking the group.
Brunson knows Doncic’s flaws better than most, and he also knows the talent. He once said watching Luka in Dallas practices made him question how far he had to go as an NBA player.
The present is striking. Doncic remains the bigger natural force, while Brunson now owns the achievement Luka is still chasing: an NBA title as the lead guard and a Finals MVP trophy in New York.
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