Dallas Mavericks: 5 biggest takeaways from 2021 media day

Biggest takeaway from Dallas Mavericks media day: 4. JB is using talk as motivation

Fans heard from the moment the Mavs were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year that the team needed a secondary playmaker. The criticism is fair and just as the team’s offense was virtually non-existent when Luka Doncic went to the bench in the postseason. They had an offensive rating of 83.0, which was nearly 20 points per 100 possessions worse than the Thunder’s 102.8 mark that finished 30th in the NBA last season.

The Mavericks attempted to address the need this offseason by targeting Kyle Lowry in free agency, but he ultimately decided to play for the Miami Heat. Things have not died down as supporters continue to hear the Goran Dragic rumors. Jalen Brunson believes Dallas has the option to cure their woes in-house.

He talked a lot about improving his game and how is using the noise to fuel him. JB also discussed his struggles in the playoffs and how he plans to fix them this season with consistency and hard work.

Fans saw Jalen Brunson take a massive leap in his third NBA season, but can he take another one this year? Expect him to be in the running for Sixth Man of the Year as the 25-year-old tries to prove he can be the secondary playmaker the Dallas Mavericks need next to Luka Doncic.