Jalen Brunson has solidified his status as the face of the New York Knicks. If he hadn't done it through his All-Star level play last season, he did it this summer by signing a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension. If Brunson waited till next summer to re-sign as a free agent, he was entitled to $113 million more . Brunson has explained why he made the sacrifice in the first place.
“It made the most sense. You always want to make sure you're set up for wealth for your family, but it was kinda simple. I want to be here. I want to show that actions speak louder than just talking about stuff. I want this team to be together for a long time. I want to win here. That’s it.”
Brunson averaged 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.7 assists last season, making his first All-Star appearance while also almost making it to an All-NBA appearance. He led a very injury-depleted Knicks roster to 50 wins, which has filled the franchise with confidence for what they can achieve with their core of Brunson, Julius Randle, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo.
The decision to leave money on the table wouldn't have been very hard, as the Knicks made a massive move to get Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo's college teammate Mikal Bridges to the franchise for an expensive sum. The tone Brunson has set with his contract could lead to Mikal Bridges returning the favor to the franchise to ensure they can field a competitive group on good salaries.
More than anything, Brunson is happy and settled on the Knicks with a family-like environment around the organization. They bet on him when even the Mavericks refused to during his free agency in 2022, which has led to tremendous success for both parties. That is all the more reason for Brunson to stay with the franchise where his Godfather is the Team President and his father is an assistant coach.
Carmelo Anthony Wouldn't Have Done The Same For The Knicks
The only other player who could be considered a modern Knicks legend is Carmelo Anthony. Brunson seemed to be on the precipice of moving ahead of Melo in the eyes of Knicks fans for his impact on the team already, with Anthony's recent comments on Brunson's paycut showing the different mentalities both players have .
"It's a lose-lose situation. If you leave money on the table, people have something to say. If you take the contract, people have something to say. So, at the end of the day, you have to do what's best for you. I think JB knows his situation. I'd take a discount to get my man and my brother on the team. He's working with the Knicks. It's a situation they have to figure out. He has more coming. I'm not doing it."
Anthony averaged 24.7 points and 7.0 rebounds on the Knicks, even winning a scoring title in 2013. His production was higher than Brunson's, but Jalen's personal sacrifice and bringing the same amount of Playoff success as Anthony will set the stage for a new modern GOAT on the Knicks.
Related: Jalen Brunson Can Potentially Sign A $418 Million Deal In 2029
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