When you look up the definition of “team player” in the dictionary, you might just see a picture of Jalen Brunson.
The Knicks guard agreed to a four-year extension with New York on Friday afternoon, which will keep the All-Star in the Big Apple for the foreseeable future. Brunson is entering the third year of a four-year contract he signed with the Knicks in 2022, but is waiving his player option for 2025-26 to strike a new deal.
The biggest drawback to the new deal is something unprecedented in the NBA. In an era where players sacrifice winning to get as much money as possible, the point guard is doing exactly the opposite. Brunson is leaving more than $100 million on the table with this new deal, giving the Knicks more flexibility to build a team that will compete in the Eastern Conference.
Brunson is coming off his best season to date in his NBA career. In his second year with the Knicks, the Villanova alum averaged a career-high 28.7 points and led New York to second place in the East. He added 6.7 assists per game and 3.6 rebounds per game while shooting 47.9% from the field and 40.1% from beyond the arc.
Here’s more on Brunson’s contract and how it broke the mold for NBA player contracts.
Jalen Brunson’s contract details
Brunson will sign a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension with the Knicks, his agent Sam Rose told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
In an unprecedented financial concession to give a contender roster flexibility, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson has agreed to a four-year extension worth $156.5 million, his agent Sam Rose of CAA told ESPN — $113 million less guaranteed than he is eligible to receive in a… image.twitter.com/DDJvz7TUlr
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2024
Here’s a look at their estimated wage impacts, by Spotrac.
| Season | Age | Salary |
| 2024-25 | 28 | $24,960,001 |
| 2025-26 | 29 | $34,933,036 |
| 2026-27 | 30 | $37,727,679 |
| 2027-28 | 31 | $40,522,321 |
| 2028-29 | 32 | $43,316,964 |
Had the guard waited one more year, he would have been eligible for a five-year, $269 million extension in 2025. Instead, he signed a new deal a year early, leaving $113 million in guaranteed money on the table.
This is what it looks like image.twitter.com/AKsU33fmby
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 12, 2024
The new four-year extension includes three years at $37.1 million per season for Brunson and a player option for the fourth year. This sets up the New York star to potentially sign another deal in 2028 or 2029, where he has the opportunity to make more money.
The deal, which doesn’t kick in until 2025-26, gives the Knicks more flexibility to spend in other areas of their roster. OG Anunoby just signed a massive five-year, $212.5 million contract to remain in the Big Apple. Julius Randle still has at least one more year making just under $30 million before he’s eligible for an extension, and recently acquired Mikal Bridges will be eligible for an extension the following year.
The Brunson news comes on the heels of New York’s recent trade to bring in Bridges from the Nets, reuniting the Brooklyn sensation with three of his college teammates: Brunson, Josh Hart and Donte DiVencenzo. All four won an NCAA championship in 2016 with Villanova.
Jalen Brunson’s Knicks Stats
Brunson became the face of the franchise in his second season in New York in 2023-24.
- 28.7 points per game
- 3.6 rebounds per game
- 6.7 assists per game
- 0.9 steals per game
- 0.2 blocks per game
- 2.4 turnovers per game
- 47.9 percent field goals
- 40.1 percent on three-point shots
- 84.7 percent in free throws
