Jalen Brunson gives his thoughts on a future with the New York Knicks.
Jalen Brunson is under contract with the New York Knicks until 2029 when he's set to his unrestricted free agency.
He has a player option for the 2028-29 season, and is eligible for an extension in 2027.
Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension in 2024, taking $113 million less guaranteed than he was eligible to receive. Brunson recently stated that he was hoping the Knicks would do right by him on his next contract extension.
Brunson is averaging 26.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 54 games this season, helping the Knicks to a 37-22 record, putting them third in the East.
Brunson Clarifies His Comments
Speaking to the New York Post, Brunson tried to put Knicks fans at ease by stating that he wants to be with the team forever.
“I would love to be here for the rest of my career. I love this place,” he said. “They’ve welcomed me with open arms. They’ve been behind my back since Day 1. I built a life here. And I love the city, I love the fans, I love everything this place has offered me, on and off the court. So I just love it here. And I’d love to stay.”
Brunson joined the Knicks in 2022, signing as a free agent after a breakout season and playoffs with the Dallas Mavericks.
He's helped turn the team around in a big way, leading them to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons after they had only made the postseason once in nine years.
Brunson's Impact On The Knicks
In his final season in Dallas, Brunson averaged 16.3 points in the regular season, and saw that number jump to 21.6 points in the playoffs.
As a result, he signed a four-year deal with the Knicks worth $104 million.
The Knicks bet immediately paid off as they won ten more games, made the playoffs, and Brunson finished 12th in MVP voting.
The Knicks have shown improvement in each season with Brunson at the helm of the offense, winning 50 games in his second season, and then winning 51 games and making the Eastern Conference Finals last season.
This year, the Knicks are on pace to once again win 50 games, though they hope to find higher success in the playoffs with their eyes on a trip to the NBA Finals.
Winning the NBA Cup showed they can rise to the occasion, but the past two NBA Cup Champions failed to make it out of the first round.
Brunson and his squad look to try to buck that trend in a competitive Eastern Conference.