A former Dallas Mavericks executive is defending his past evaluation of Jalen Brunson after renewed criticism over comments he made years before the guard became a star with the New York Knicks.

Haralabos Voulgaris, who served as the Mavericks' director of quantitative research and development until May 2021, has been under scrutiny for his stance during the 2020 NBA Draft period, when he supported the idea of exploring trades involving Brunson. He also said he was interested in pursuing Tyrese Haliburton, who he viewed as one of the top players in that draft class.

According to the NYPost, writing on X, Voulgaris explained that Brunson was seen internally as a valuable trade asset at the time, and he believed moving him could help Dallas land a higher-upside player like Haliburton.

"Jalen Brunson was one of the Mavericks' assets who had league-wide value and was in favor of moving him if they could have acquired Haliburton," he said in his posts.

He added that, at the time, many within the organization did not predict Brunson would develop into the All-NBA-level player he has become with the Knicks in 2026. That growth, he said, is why his past viewpoint is being judged differently today.

Haralabos Voulgaris Defends Past Jalen Brunson Trade

Although Voulgaris left the Mavericks after the 2021 season and was not part of the decision that allowed Brunson to leave in free agency in 2022, he said he still faces blame for the situation, Total News reported.

The discussion has also resurfaced old tension between Voulgaris and the Brunson family. He previously recalled attending a Knicks-Lakers game where Rick Brunson, Jalen's father and a Knicks assistant coach, appeared to show visible frustration toward him throughout the night. After the game, Voulgaris said Rick confronted him directly.

"He told me the reason he had a problem with me was that he was looking out for his kid, and that he was upset because he thought I had tried to cost his son some money," Voulgaris said. He added that the exchange eventually ended peacefully, with both men shaking hands and even sharing a hug afterward.

Since those earlier Dallas decisions, Jalen Brunson has become the centerpiece of New York's rise. He has averaged more than 24 points per game in each of his seasons with the Knicks, leading them to four straight playoff appearances and helping turn the team into an NBA Finals contender.