All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson has given the New York Knicks a major discount with his new extension in order to help the franchise compete for an NBA championship.
Brunson agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension with the Knicks earlier this week. While that is still a lot of money, it is actually around $113 million less than he could get if he just waited to become a free agent next offseason.
As it turns out, Brunson didn’t want to wait for a bigger extension because he wanted to help the New York team avoid the dreaded second apron of the salary cap. Reaching the second apron significantly limits the team’s ability to acquire new players via free-agency signings and trades.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski shared on X (former Twitter) the differences between the contract Brunson signed and the one he could have signed, as well as the impact of his decision on the Knicks’ salary cap situation.
As Wojnarowski points out, Brunson could recoup some of the money he left on the table down the line. He will be eligible to sign a new four-year extension worth $323 million in 2028 or get a five-year, $418 million contract if he waits to become a free agent in 2029.
Brunson’s decision, rarely seen in the NBA, shows his commitment and dedication to the Knicks. He has deep ties with the franchise, considering his father, Rick Brunson, is an assistant there while the team’s president, Leon Rose, is his former agent.
Brunson is coming off a career year that saw him average 28.7 points and 6.7 assists while making his first All-Star appearance.
