Knicks Star Has Best Contract in NBA

The New York Knicks are happy to have their star signed for a long time.
Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Jan 12, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) controls the ball against Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) during the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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The New York Knicks were trying to get ahead of the curve during the offseason when they signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year extension just two years into his tenure with the team.

This means Brunson is on the books for the next six seasons for $181.9 million (player option in 2028-29).

His play in the first half of the first season after signing the contract has been proof that the Knicks made the right decision. He is averaging 25.5 points and 7.5 assists per game for the Knicks while leading them to the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Bleacher Report writer Andy Bailey listed Brunson as the best value contract in the NBA.

"Jalen Brunson finished fifth in MVP voting last season. And when he signed his way-below-max extension with the New York Knicks this past summer, it instantly became the best value deal in the league (outside of the contracts for super-duperstars like Jokić, SGA, Giannis Antetokounmpo, etc.)," Bailey writes. "The 28-year-old point guard's average annual salary ranks outside the top 40, but he's once again playing well enough to receive All-NBA consideration."

The best part about the deal was Brunson's selflessness. He signed a discounted deal knowing he could have made much more money if he had waited one more year, but he did so to help keep the Knicks under the second apron, which will allow them to seek upgrades in the future.

"He's still one of the best offensive engines in the NBA, and his average annual salary is less than Scottie Barnes', Fred VanVleet's and teammate OG Anunoby's, just to name a few," Bailey writes.

"He did the New York Knicks a colossal favor when he signed this extension."

Brunson and the Knicks are back in action tonight against the Detroit Pistons at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.