Knicks' Josh Hart hilariously explains why the NBA's new TV deal might extend his career

Though it hasn't officially been announced, the NBA is reportedly on the verge of completing a new media rights package worth $76 billion over 11 years.

With the new deal will come a rising salary cap, and thus, rising NBA salaries . If $200- and $300-million deals already seem eye-popping, just wait until players sign max contracts worth $400 million, with annual salaries approaching $100 million.

Those exorbitant numbers might just keep players like Knicks forward Josh Hart in the league longer.

While speaking on "Front Office Sports Today," Hart said the new media deal could make him rethink the trajectory of his career.

"I was like, I wanna retire when I'm 34, maybe 35, when I still got a little bit of juice left. But then I saw [the new media deal], I'm like, you know what, I'm going to play until my knees fall off," Hart said.

The implication is that the salaries will be too high for Hart to turn down, even into his mid- to late 30s.

Hart made a similar joke on his "Roommates" podcast with Jalen Brunson, saying that he will play longer if the veteran's minimum (which is a percentage of the salary cap, along with a players' experience) is worth $7-8 million per season.

"I'm gonna be sitting there watching film with young bulls, I'm gonna sit there and be a hell of a culture dude," Hart said. "I'm getting vet minimums, I'm playing until I can't walk ... If I'm getting paid $8 million to be like 'Young fella, come on, this is what you gotta do....'"

Hart is set to enter the first year of a four-year, $80 million extension with the Knicks. The final season, worth $22.3 million, is a team option. So, Hart could re-enter free agency at 32, looking for one more big contract.

Of course, the opposite could be true for many players: they might make so much money over a shorter period of time that they decide to retire early.