Jalen Brunson’s $156.5 million Knicks extension puts priorities on display
NY Post
Jalen Brunson revealed exactly how his priorities aligned with his $156.5 million extension, a deal that felt unprecedented in its sacrifice because the point guard could’ve signed for $113 million more next summer.
“Priority A, I secured I think a decent amount of money to support myself and my family, my extended family in the current time. I didn’t have to wait a year,” said Brunson, who is currently on the $104 million deal he signed in 2022. “Like I said, a lot can happen in a year. Everyone in this room has seen a lot happen in a year when players wait out. So that’s one thing. No. 2 — I would love to be here, I want to be here the rest of my career.
“And winning trumps everything I do individually. Like I said, when you win as a team, individuals can grow from that. That’s at the front of my mind at all times — what can I do to win?”
The “winning” element to the contract is the way it maintains Brunson’s salary at a low enough figure — his average salary is about $37.5 million in the first three seasons — to boost the chances of keeping the Knicks away from the dreaded second tax apron.
If the Knicks — who are paying the team’s highest salaries next season to OG Anunoby and Julius Randle — fall in the second apron, they’d be restricted in trades and free agency.
Cap flexibility can be important to building a championship contender, and Brunson acknowledged he studied the documentaries of Tom Brady and Derek Jeter before making his decision.
