Draymond Green comments on Jalen Brunson giving Knicks a discount

Jalen Brunson signed one of the most noteworthy contract extensions with the New York Knicks this offseason. However, the conversation wasn't focused on the size of Brunson's new deal but instead on how much money he left on the table with his team-friendly deal.

Brunson decided to sign the four-year, $156.5M extension this offseason instead of waiting until the 2025 offseason. In doing so, he left roughly $113M on the table, as his 2025 extension could have been worth up to $269.1M over four years.

There's been no shortage of praise and head-scratching reactions to Brunson's decision from players, analysts, and fans. But Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green's most recent comments on the Club 520 Podcast were a mixture of praise for the Knicks star and some criticism over the decision.

Green cited his own decision to sign a four-year, $100M deal over waiting to get $180M but cited his reasoning as the fact that someone had to take less money on the Warriors. He correctly explained how his situation differed with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson but said Brunson didn't need to take the discount as the "No. 1 option."

“Not only are you the No. 1 option on the New York Knicks — and that’s cool — but the city of New York loves you. You’re going to get that 250 [million]," Green said, via NBC Sports Bay Area .

Green explained that with Brunson as the "top guy," he believes someone else should have taken less on an upcoming contract extension.

“Alright, something had to give. Cool, I will take less, but he’s the top guy. Let Josh Hart or somebody else take less. Like, they’re in my role. Let somebody else take less. Guess what? ... Steph Curry didn’t take a penny less, and neither did Klay Thompson take a penny less. If it’s going to work, somebody will do [it]. I wasn’t expecting them to take less. I don’t know what he’s doing,” Green said.

Brunson's discounted deal helped the Knicks position themselves to keep their talented core together. It also sets the franchise up to keep the "'Nova Knicks" together, a group that became even stronger this offseason after acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets via trade.

Obviously, Brunson's decision will come with both praise and scrutiny, but at 27 years old, the Knicks budding star will have the opportunity to pick up another big payday on his next deal. And if his upward trajectory continues, don't be surprised if he even gets a new deal before his most recent extension wraps up.