Jalen Brunson Breaks Silence On Massive $112M Pay Cut In Knicks Deal

One of the most surprising stories to come from this NBA offseason came from the New York Knicks. A team that had immense momentum after a second-round exit was going to make some major moves. That came in the form of the explosive Mikal Bridges trade.

Six first-round picks to reunite Bridges with his former college teammates was a tall order. But, it gave Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo a fourth Villanova on the squad. However, somehow that wasn’t the most surprising move out of the Big Apple.

That right was reserved for franchise cornerstone and best player Jalen Brunson. When Jalen first came to New York, he was a relative unknown. His performance with the Dallas Mavericks was solid, but nothing that screamed franchise centerpiece. In two seasons with the Knicks, that idea has taken a dramatic U-turn. Now, Brunson is beloved in NYC, and rightfully so. Outstanding regular seasons combined with unreal playoffs have made him a heartfelt fan and team favorite.

So, it was a natural expectation that he would sign a bumper $269 million contract once his initial contract came to an end. But, that isn’t how this time or Jalen operates. Instead, in an ever-greedy league, the former Villanova product became the posterchild for selflessness. Rather than wait a year for his extension, he left $113 million on the board, signing for four years and $156 million instead.

And, as it turns out, it wasn’t negligence on his part. But rather a carefully calculated move from a genuine team leader.

Jalen Brunson and leadership

In his two seasons with the Knicks, Jalen Brunson has truly ascended into superstardom. While he was excellent for the Mavericks in his role, he wasn’t doing much beyond that role. But, with New York, Jalen has gotten the opportunity to shine and the results have been phenomenal. In his first year, he came in as a 24 ppg scorer on elite efficiency. But, it was last season, when he truly took a step up.

Averaging nearly 29 points a game he became the facilitator of the entire offense, adding almost 7 apg as well. But, even with the increase in responsibility and attention, his efficiency was still top-notch. Moreover, on the defensive end as well, his stocky build made him a matchup nightmare. His true crowning came during the playoffs though. In both years, the Knicks made it to the 2nd-round. However, his exploits, both in performance and spirit of competition made him invaluable for New York.

Averaging 40 minutes per game, he was the sole creator for a Knicks team missing Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and OG Anunoby. Still, his 32.4 ppg were legendary while was adding 7.5 assists nightly as well. Furthermore, there were multiple times through 13 games where his minutes were at or close to the entire 48. As a result, the contract discount was a complete shocker for all involved.

But, for Brunson, it is an idea. And it is a chance to send a message to the rest of the team. “ I think through every decision I make, and I’m totally at ease with what I made. It’s obvious that I’m well off my family too, and that is the first thing. But I want to win and win here. Victory will dominate everything I do individually.”

With extensions for both the newly incoming Mikal Bridges and veteran Randle coming up, his example sets a precedent for all future negotiations. Further, it also gives the team the financial flexibility to keep and build around this core. “ People can say they want a lot of things, but these are the actions that count Of course, it’s no guarantee that we win the title, but I want to bring my stone to help the team try to win. It is a journey and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.

Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.