Dallas Mavericks: Jalen Brunson had hilarious first encounter with Michael Jordan

Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson had his first meeting with Michael Jordan as a child, and the results turned out to be hilarious. Find out more here.

The Dallas Mavericks have multiple players with fathers that played professional basketball. Jalen Brunson’s dad Rick Brunson suited up for eight NBA teams over nine years. Sasa Doncic played pro ball in Europe before becoming better known as the father of Mavericks star Luka Doncic. Tim Hardaway Jr. has perhaps the most famous father in five-time All-Star Tim Sr.

That means a lot of their players grew up around the game. The spotlight of being a professional is nothing new to them.

It also takes the shine off meeting a legend. The status seems more reachable if you are immersed in it.

Jalen meets Jordan

Perhaps, all that led to a funny exchange the first time Jalen Brunson met the GOAT Michael Jordan. The story first appeared in this ESPN article about how young players learned about Jordan. Most of the players featured in the piece were born after he had already won his six rings.

The story goes a six-year-old Brunson meets Jordan in 2003 after his father Rick’s Bulls took on MJ’s Wizards. It was near the end of Jordan’s final NBA season. Brunson was wearing MJ’s Wizards jersey, so Jordan asked if he wanted him to sign it. The six-year-old declined because MJ would “mess it up”.

Father Rick lays out in the story that his son did not know who Michael Jordan was at the time. Jalen was born in 1996. He was not even two years old when Jordan lead the Bulls to their sixth championship in eight years.

He is part of the group that did not get to witness prime MJ live. They all missed something special. A thing that may never be seen again. Jordan was incredible. The best player, the biggest star, and an unstoppable force on both ends of the floor.

The Last Dance is introducing a new generation to Michael Jordan. Hopefully, they are taking the time to enjoy a few full games too. They can be found all over YouTube and ESPN-plus. Even approaching three decades later, there is never a bad moment watching MJ ball. A further encapsulation of why he is the GOAT.