Jalen Brunson Shares his Thoughts on Josh Hart Contract Situation

The New York Knicks have some drama surrounding them going into the regular-season opener. It’s been reported that the front office has decided to pause negotiations on contract extensions with their players, leaving their long-term plans in question.  

The Knicks have three pivotal players who are eligible for contract extensions this season. Center Karl-Anthony Towns and guards Josh Hart and Miles McBride are all seeking extensions with the franchise, but nothing has come of it. 

Star player Jalen Brunson recently talked about the news surrounding the team, and he was asked about his former college teammate Josh Hart’s situation. 

"He's going to be professional. Not just him - everybody. Everyone's going to be professional and continue to do their jobs,” Brunson said. 

Josh Hart has specifically said to the media that he would like to get a deal done before the season as he’d like to focus on the regular season, but this makes the situation harder. 

Since Hart has been with the Knicks, he has been one of the most important pieces because of the energy he brings on both ends of the floor. 

Josh Hart is known to be one of the NBA’s best rebounding guards, and in the Knicks’ championship run, he made multiple plays that sparked runs and gave New York extra possessions. 

The Knicks face a tall task this season as they’ll look to win the Eastern Conference in back to back seasons. Other teams in the conference have made moves to bolster their rosters and compete with New York.  

It will be important for them to have all their players completely bought in, and the hope is that the difference between the front office and players doesn’t translate to what is seen on the court. 

Towns, McBride, and Hart are all players who can contribute on both ends of the floor and each had their big moments in the 2026 playoffs. 

Performances from them are what allowed Jalen Brunson to be under less pressure for much of the championship run because his supporting cast was very productive. 

The front office will need to continue to prioritize keeping a solid supporting cast around Brunson moving forward, and these are all three players who have continuity with one another. 

It will be interesting to see how the Knicks will approach the extension talks next offseason or if they decide to reopen negotiations during the season. New York has been wanting to stay under the second apron, so that could change how they view this roster.