The New York Knicks look like they will continue to keep this massive core around for the foreseeable future after making the Eastern Conference Semifinals last season with a lot of injuries. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that point guard Jalen Brunson has agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension with the fourth year being a player option.
The big news regarding this deal is that he would have been guaranteed $113 million more over five years if Brunson waited until next offseason to sign the extension. The breakdown of the contract is as follows:
- 2025-26: $34,944,001
- 2026-27: $37,739,521
- 2027-28: $40,535,041
- 2028-29: $43,330,561
There is a lot to break down here of why the New York Knicks point guard would decide to make this decision but let’s take a deeper dive into everything we know.
What does this contract extension mean for the New York Knicks moving forward?
After trading with the Brooklyn Nets for forward Mikal Bridges, the New York Knicks showcased that they are going to build around this Villanova Wildcats core of Brunson, Bridges, Donte DiVincenzo and Josh Hart. The contract extension means the Knicks have all four of their stars for multiple years as Bridges’ contract expires first after the 2025-26 season.
With the New York Knicks’ future belonging somewhat to the Brooklyn Nets, it was imperative to get these guys to sign. Brunson was fifth in the NBA MVP voting and second-team All-NBA last season as he finished averaging 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 0.9 steals while having a shooting split of 47.9/40.1/84.7 in 77 games.
This team has its leader to march on the court and this continues to help the New York Knicks financially. Not many NBA players would give up $113 million of earnings and an additional year but now he is eligible for a four-year, $323 million extension during the 2027 offseason as he will have 10 years of service.
This is a savings of $37.1 million for the Knicks overall. Every situation is different but it is clear that Jalen Brunson loves playing in Madison Square Garden and that the New York Knicks are a powerhouse in the NBA for at least the next few years.
About the Author
Vincent Pensabene graduated from Saint Leo University in 2019 with a B.A. in Sport Business and has focused on the media side of sports. He writes for multiple publications and is interested in the reasoning of why things happen. Feel free to follow him on social media @TalkVinTalk and discuss all things sports.
