Jalen Brunson is getting paid by the New York Knicks, but not necessarily as much as they could have paid him.
The Knicks All-Star has agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, despite being eligible for a five-year, $269 million deal next summer. The difference in those deals is $113 million in guaranteed money.
It’s a little more complicated than Brunson giving the Knicks a nine-figure discount, though. As Wojnarowski explains, Brunson will be receiving $37.1 million less over the next three years, but his fourth year is a player option. If he decides to opt out, Brunson will reportedly be eligible for a four-year, $323 million deal in 2028 or a five-year, $418 million deal in 2029.
That would be part of why Brunson is taking a pay cut now, but his deal still definitely helps the Knicks keep their burgeoning contender together after signing OG Anunoby to a five-year, $212.5 million deal and trading nearly every first-round draft pick possible for Mikal Bridges.
One of Brunson’s fellow Villanova Knicks sees his deal as the point guard being a team player.
So Brunson is doing his team a favor, and potentially himself a favor down the line as well, assuming he’s still a star in 2028, when he’ll be 31 years old.
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