Jalen Brunson addresses his upcoming contract situation and what he's looking for with the New York Knicks.
In July 2024, Jalen Brunson signed a four-year extension worth $156.5 million. A lot of money to be sure, but not as much as he could have had.
Brunson was eligible to sign a max contract for five years, worth $270 million. Brunson took the shorter deal for less money to help keep the Knicks below the second apron and allow them financial flexibility to improve the team.
They did reward his efforts, officially acquiring Mikal Bridges shortly before Brunson's deal was signed, trading for Karl-Anthony Towns, and making moves around the margins, including the recent trade of Jose Alvarado and the signing of Jeremy Sochan.
Speaking to Vanity Fair about his next contract, Brunson said, “Obviously, we’d love for them to do right by me. I think anyone would. I feel like I sacrificed.”
Brunson's Next Deal
In 2028, Brunson will be eligible for a five-year, $417.8 million deal.
In the interview, Brunson reiterated that he sacrificed for the team the first time around, but he made sure that he and his family were taken care of. He also stated that he plays his best when his mind is free, and signing when he did allowed him to have his mind free.
Brunson will be 32 in 2028, and while his game shows no signs of decline at the moment, he's a smaller guard who has racked up a number of bumps and bruises over the years due to his style of play.
Fortunately, he hasn't suffered any major injuries during his career and has never played in fewer than 57 games in a season.
While Brunson will be eligible for an extension in 2028, he won't become a free agent until the summer of 2029, unless he opts out of the final year of his deal.
OG Anunoby is also extension eligible in 2028.
What Jalen Brunson Means To New York
In 2021-22, the Knicks finished 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 37-45 record. They had not won a playoff series since 2013 and had only made the playoffs once during that stretch.
In the summer of 2022, they signed Brunson to a four-year deal worth $104 million.
They have not missed the playoffs since, have advanced past the first round in each season, and made the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
In four seasons with the Knicks, he's averaging 26.5 points and 6.6 assists while shooting 39% from three.
While Brunson isn't solely responsible for their success, he undoubtedly changed the team's trajectory, taking them from an often-used punchline to a serious championship contender.