PHOENIX — For those who don’t remember, Jalen Brunson was the undisputed leader and All-American point guard of the Villanova Wildcats team that captured two NCAA titles in a three-year span.
As Brunson went, so went the Wildcats.
That’s why, as a reminder to what Brunson accomplished on the collegiate level, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said: “I try to bring it up every time I get a chance. When you talk about JB’s career, he’s won championships in college, he understands what it means to work hard, he understands what it means to be a team guy.
“He’s a point guard. He’s the extension of the coach. He understands what his job is as a point guard and he takes full advantage of that.”
With the Mavs’ starting point guard — Luka Doncic — sidelined for Wednesday’s 105-98 loss to the Phoenix Suns with a sprained left knee and a sprained left ankle, Brunson started and finished with 18 points, nine rebounds and nine assists.
It’s a continuation of what Brunson has accomplished this season. But in no way, he admits, is this his way of reminding folks of his star-studded college career.
“I just think it’s kind of in the past,” Brunson said of his college career. “Like for me, I don’t even focus on what I did in the past. I think for me if I just worry about the things I’ve done, it would only hold me back.
“As long as I’m working to continue to get better no matter what the situation is, my mindset is going to stay the same. I just can’t be held up on past successes. It’s on to a new life, on to a new chapter.”
For now, that new chapter for Brunson involves being the Mavs’ starting point guard whenever Doncic is unavailable.
Doncic is listed as doubtful for Friday’s rematch between the Mavs and Suns at 9 p.m. at Footprint Center. And if the two-time All-Star is unable to play, Brunson will again get the starting nod at point guard.
If Doncic doesn’t play Friday, Brunson said of his personal approach to the game: “My approach is going to stay the same. It’s the next man up mentality.
“It’s not just going to be me. It’s going to be ‘us’ as a collective. I’ll be ready for the challenge.”
It is a challenge Brunson knows all too well, as he also was thrust into the starting lineup earlier this season when forward/center Kristaps Porzingis sat out five consecutive games with lower back tightness.
“Nothing changes,” Brunson said. “It’s the same mindset and mentality. We’re down a huge piece, so it’s going to be a lot to kind of make up for.
“Luka’s obviously a big part of this team and this organization, so everybody’s got to step up and be ready for the challenge.”
Kidd knows Brunson will always be prepared to step up. It’s part of his DNA since his father, Rick Brunson, played eight years in the NBA.
“He’s started for us (previously), so this isn’t something that’s new,” Kidd said. “We’re not asking him to do anything more.
“We want him to be a basketball player, and be the best basketball player he can be.”
No way is Kidd asking Brunson to give the Mavs the same show-stopping ingredients they get from Doncic.
“Luka, as we all know, is a little bit bigger (than Brunson),” Kidd said. “I think he might argue that he’s maybe faster than JB. But I think they both understand how to run a team.
“Again, (Brunson has) been playing at a high level for us – just not scoring the ball, but being able to run a team. He’s run that second unit at a very, very high level.”
Kidd also won’t scrap his playbook because someone other than Doncic is running his offense.
“This isn’t where we’ll change the offense,” Kidd said. “The offense is going to stay the same.”
The pace, though, is invariably much different when Doncic is running the Mavs’ offense as opposed to Brunson.
“When you look at Luka, he’ll tell you exactly where he wants to get,” Kidd said. “I think when you look at Jalen, he’s able to play at a little bit faster gear right now.”
Chosen in the second round of the same NBA Draft – 2018 – as Doncic, Brunson finished fourth in the NBA Sixth Man Award race last season. He’s currently averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and five assists while shooting 50 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from three-point land.
“He’s been playing at a very, very high level for us,” Kidd said. “I know it’s early, but when you talk about sixth man honors, if he can keep this up he’ll be right there at the end of the season with that award.”
Twitter: @DwainPrice
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