Jalen Brunson shook the basketball world by giving up $113 million when he signed an extension with the New York Knicks .
Brunson would have been eligible for a $269 million contract if he had negotiated next summer. But instead of waiting, he chose to sign a $156.5 million deal, giving his team financial flexibility and the ability to plan ahead.
Many are still shocked that Brunson left that much money on the table. Not Karl-Anthony Towns , though.
"You can't put a value on the fact that he's at where he wants to be," KAT said on Club Shay Shay. " I think that's a big value number that no one's thinking of. He's with his father. He's super comfortable. He has a team that believes in him."
Empire State of mind
There is no doubt that New York is where Brunson wants to be. After all, his ties with the Knicks run deep.
Team president Leon Rose used to represent Jalen before 2020. The former was also Brunson's dad's agent when he played in the NBA. The team also hired Rick as an assistant coach shortly before Jalen signed as a free agent in 2022.
The organization was criticized for overpaying Jalen that summer. Two years later, and he's the franchise cornerstone, playing alongside his college teammates Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges, whom the Knicks acquired in June.
"I think that belief that a team and an organization could give you is something. It's worth a lot, a lot, a lot of money, and they give him that belief. And I think that he felt that was the best situation for him, and I root for him off of that," Towns added.
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Towns in New York
Not only will KAT continue to root for Brunson, but he will also be alongside the 28-year-old en route to leading the Knicks to the promised land.
Before his Club Shay Shay interview aired, the Knicks made a blockbuster trade that sent Julius Randle and DiVincenzo to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the four-time All-Star. Many people—including ESPN's Kendrick Perkins—believe KAT is the missing piece of the Knicks' championship puzzle.
"Hell yeah, he is," Big Perk said . "Wasn't Kristaps Porzingis the piece for the Boston Celtics to get them over the top? I don't think we realize how great of a player or talent Karl-Anthony Towns is…When you talk about KAT, everybody wants to talk about he's a stretch shooting big. I get that. He can shoot the three and knock down the three. But he also could put it on the floor. He also has low post moves, jump hooks, and turnarounds. Whatever you want, he has it."
When the Boston Celtics traded for Porzingis last season, they added a weapon they never had and went on to win the NBA championship. The Knicks did the same with KAT, arguably the franchise's best big man since Patrick Ewing. New York fans can only hope they replicate Boston's success and finally win a title for the city.
Related: Bill Simmons says KAT's character will be tested in New York: "He's going in the worst city to be a 'maybe I shouldn't have said that' guy"
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