Suns' Mikal Bridges expects Mavericks to look different without Jalen Brunson in lineup

Dana Scott, Arizona Republic
·2 min read
May 15, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson (13) pressures Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) during game seven of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center.
May 15, 2022; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Jalen Brunson (13) pressures Phoenix Suns forward Mikal Bridges (25) during game seven of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at Footprint Center.
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Mikal Bridges believes his close friend Jalen Brunson is one of the NBA's best one-on-one players.

Bridges acknowledged at the Suns' practice on Tuesday the Dallas Mavericks will look different without his former Villanova teammate in their Wednesday night's regular season opener in Phoenix and this season.

Before Brunson signed his four-year, $104 million deal with the New York Knicks in July, he was the Mavericks' second-best offensive threat during the 2022 playoffs behind his former backcourt mate Luka Doncic.

Brunson averaged 18.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game to help the Mavericks knock out Phoenix in the West semifinals last season, including 24 points in their 33-point rout in Game 7.

Bridges guarded Brunson and Doncic during the series.

"I think losing JB was a key thing," Bridges said. "But I think having guys like (Spencer) Dinwiddie and Tim (Hardaway Jr.), all of those guys like Christian Wood, another guy they're gonna have. But I think they'll be all right. ...

"I mean I'm biased because I think Jalen is really nice. But they've got guys that are gonna step up as well."

Brunson's 21.6-point overall playoff average helped lead the fifth-seeded Mavericks to push the eventual world champion Golden State Warriors to seven games in the West finals.

Brunson was the Mavericks' secondary ball handler who was tough to defend on isolation plays and penetrations in their small ball offense that heavily relied on 3s.

Dinwiddie was their sixth man last season, who is replacing Brunson as the starting shooting guard.

Former Suns backup center JaVale McGee signed a three-year deal with Dallas in June. Christian Wood was traded to Dallas that same month after he was Houston's top scoring big last season.

The Suns face Dallas three times during this regular season, and they play against New York twice on Nov. 20 and Jan. 2.

Have tips for us? Reach the reporter at dana.scott@azcentral.com or at 480-486-4721. Follow his Twitter @iam_DanaScott.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Suns' Bridges says Mavericks will have different look without Brunson