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Mavs Tuesday Donuts: Where does 'Impressive Summer' Brunson fit into backcourt plans?

Mavs Tuesday Donuts: Where does 'Impressive Summer' Brunson fit into backcourt plans?
Mike Fisher|
Mavs Tuesday Donuts: Where does 'Impressive Summer' Brunson fit into backcourt plans?
Mavs Tuesday Donuts: Where does 'Impressive Summer' Brunson fit into backcourt plans?

DONUT 1: RANKING 'IMPRESSIVE SUMMERS'

DALLAS - The observation that second-year guard Jalen Brunson experienced "the most impressive summer'' of any member of the Dallas Mavericks is an eye-popping one, given what we know about the in-the-gym accomplishments of Luka and KP. But now comes the next step: Where does an "impressive summer'' take Jalen this fall?

DONUT 2: WE'RE BUYING

Our colleague Brad Townsend offers the "most impressive summer'' note here via Twitter ...

... and given what we know about Brunson -- the Villanova standout who arrived in Dallas last year amid almost immediate proclamations from coach Rick Carlisle of "He's a pro'' -- we're buyers here.

(P.S.: Brad's tweet resulted in over 1,000 "likes.'' Or "hearts.'' Or whatever. Point is ... Mavs fans care. #MFFL.)

DONUT 3: OF ABS AND BICEPS

Of course, Luka Doncic also experienced an "impressive summer,'' what with the addition of an ab or two. And Kristaps Porzingis also experienced an "impressive summer,'' what with the addition of popping-with-pride biceps and triceps. Their plan, in a word? To be a "nightmare.''

But even without those two budding stars having hit the weight room and the gym, we'd know their place on the Mavs' pecking order.

At the top.

DONUT 4: WHERE IS BRUNSON'S 'TOP'?

But for Brunson, we don't know how his improvement will translate. Indeed, we don't even know exactly what improvement the "most impressive summer'' declaration represents. So ... let's hear his answers ...

DONUT 5: QUOTABLE

"The "breakthrough,'' Brunson said at Media Day, "was getting an opportunity (at the end of last season) ... and playing without fear.''

"Summertime was great ... I worked (on) my game to become more consistent.''

DONUT 6: TALK OF THE AAC

Brunson, 23, was part of the large Mavs contingent that trained and bonded recently in Miami.

As our Dalton Trigg noted at the time, this was a change in the way the Mavs usually do their business. ... and was among the hot topics at Monday's Media Day, which launches a Mavs training camp that begins this morning. Oh, the Dirk Nowitzki-era Mavs were almost always uniquely bonded. But they were also, oftentimes, older. Guys with commitments. Commitments to the Mavs and to each other, sure ... but commitments that maybe prevented them from all saying, "Hey, let's go to Miami to hang out and work out.''

It is, from where we sit, a notable exclamation mark on the start of a new era.

DONUT 7: QB GROWTH

This summer, Brunson also did work with USA Basketball select team. We bet that is part of his "growth.'' And again, based on his first year alone, when he emerged as one of the steals of the 2018 NBA Draft and followed his quarterbacking of a pair of Villanova championships with rare maturity for a rookie, growth is a natural thing.

DONUT 8: BY THE NUMBERS

As we'll all remember, the 6-foot-3 point guard slipped to the second round to the Mavs at the 33rd spot ... even though Dallas didn't "need a point guard.'' Indeed, in the first round, hadn't they just kinda drafted one named "Luka Doncic''?

Tuck this away for future reference, because even though we say it all the time in our NFL and Dallas Cowboys coverage, it applies to the NBA, too: Don't worry about "positions we need.'' Just draft kids who will be good pros. That's all. Regardless of position.

Draft players ... Don't draft "positions.''

DONUT 9: THE END OF NEED

Changes can come fast in the NBA -- suddenly Seth Curry was gone from that anticipated roster and suddenly Yogi Ferrell was, too ... and then JJB got hurt and next thing we knew, Dallas sort of needed some help at point guard.

DONUT 10: BY THE NUMBERS

In the end, by the time his rookie campaign was over, Brunson had posted averages of 9.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists on 46.7-percent shooting in 21 minutes per game. Oh, and he even started 38 games.

DONUT 11: THE 'IMPRESSIVE SUMMER' APPLICATION

Do those numbers go up just because Jalen Brunson had an "impressive summer''? Jalen might stay ahead of rehabbing JJ Barea in the rotation, but surely he's behind likely starting guard Delon Wright. So it stands to reason that Brunson will compete for minutes with Seth Curry, and eventually with JJB, too.

In other words, as hopeful as we are, it's far too early to know whether an "impressive summer'' means a natural advancement to an "impressive fall.''

DONUT 12: THE FINAL WORD

"It's great to have a coach (in Rick Carlisle) who believes in you and trusts in you. It definitely gave me confidence in my first year - and it's only going to get better.'' - Jalen Brunson.

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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NBA and the Dallas Mavericks since 1990. He has for more than 20 years served as the overseer of DallasBasketball.com, the granddaddy of Mavs news websites.

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