At this point, Jalen Brunson seems like he could do no wrong in the eyes of the New York Knicks after delivering them their first championship in 53 years with a remarkably clutch performance that earned him a Finals MVP award, all while doing so on an injured wrist that required surgery in the offseason, and that goodwill could get Brunson paid very soon.

Brunson's story in New York is one of hard work, defied expectations and above all, sacrifice. 

The particular sacrifice that in many ways led to the Knicks being able to build a championship roster was the four-year, $156.5 million contract extension that he accepted in 2024 which, had had Brunson waited just one more year, could have instead been a five-year, $269 million extension, and by taking the deal in 2024 he effectively saved the Knicks around $113 million. 

But now Brunson is approaching the second season of his extension and soon he'll be eligible for another contract extension in the summer of 2027 that could go up to $300 million and this time, having delivered on his promise to the Knicks to bring them a championship, may nit be so willing to leave money on the table. 

"Jalen Brunson is going to come get all of his money," Vince Goodwill said on the Hoop Collective podcast (via Hoops Hype). "He signed a year early. He could have signed for a hundred million dollars more by signing layer. every dollar of that what, $280 or $300 million that he's supposed to get next season, he's going to get all of that."

Signing Brunson to the full value of the next contract he's going to be eligible for is almost somewhat of an inevitability for the Knicks at this point. Since he first arrived in New York, he's done everything right and everything that he could for the Knicks and it's culminated in a historic championship that has made him likely the most beloved athlete in New York sports right now. 

Brunson has also indicated that he's prepared to get paid and that he feels he deserves that kind of compensation after everything that he's given to the franchise. 

Of course, paying that price would make things difficult for the Knicks financially going forward and put them at risk of entering the second apron, but considering the magnitude of Brunson's importance to the team, making that kind of investment is well worth the cost for the Knicks.

There's still another season to be played before any of these conversations can happen, but once the summer of 2027 rolls around, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Brunson gets seriously paid.