Dirk Nowitzki didn’t need a box score to explain how he felt about Jalen Brunson . After Brunson torched the Orlando Magic for 40 points and pushed the New York Knicks into the NBA Cup final, Nowitzki joined the postgame conversation on NBA on Prime and delivered a message that carried real weight. The Dallas Mavericks legend spoke directly to his former teammate, offering praise that felt both personal and earned.

“When you left for New York I wasn’t sure,” Nowitzki said. “I’m super proud of you. I saw how hard you work, how much it means to you, how much time you put in when nobody’s watching… I’m so happy the way you’re leading this franchise.” Article Continues Below

That kind of endorsement doesn’t come lightly, especially from someone who spent two decades defining what l

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