How Does Jalen Brunson’s New Contract Help the Knicks Contend in the Future?
Recently, Jalen Brunson signed a new extension with the New York Knicks for four years worth $156.5 million. Although this deal may seem like a lot of money to the casual sports fan, Brunson took a massive pay cut from what he could’ve gotten from the Knicks. If Brunson had waited to sign his extension till next season then he could’ve gotten an extra $113 million added onto the deal. This extension will kick in during the 2025 season, and Brunson has made it clear that playing basketball isn’t about the money but instead, is about trying to bring New York a championship.
The Knicks are coming off a pretty successful season after they made it to the second round, losing in seven games to the Indiana Pacers. Although the Knicks didn’t make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, there is finally hope in the city of New York for the first time in decades for this team to have success in the future. This excitement was driven by spectacular performances by Jalen Brunson in these playoffs averaging 32 points, eight assists, and three rebounds a game proving he is the top weapon in the NBA. To open up the offseason, the Knicks looked to capitalize on the momentum from the playoffs and made a big move to acquire Mikal Bridges for a haul of picks from the Brooklyn Nets. With this move, it is believed that the Knicks will be a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference for years to come alongside the Boston Celtics.
With Brunson’s unselfish contract extension, he has shown his commitment to helping the Knicks win big in the future by taking less money and allowing the team to continue building a star-studded team around him. This unselfish culture that Jalen Brunson has created is starting to resonate throughout the organization as other players like Mikal Bridges are expected to take a team-friendly deal as well. This commitment to winning by players in their contract formation is very rare and could be crucial to the Knicks trying to contend against a stacked Boston Celtics roster who were able to re-sign everyone this offseason as well.
