Jalen Brunson has cemented himself as a vital cog in the New York Knicks lineup since joining the Eastern Conference side in 2022. The Knicks have enjoyed a scintillating run since then, making the playoffs in the last three seasons.
They reached the Conference Finals last season, only to lose 4-2 to the Indiana Pacers.
Jalen Brunson Weighs In On His Future With the Knicks
Speaking to Vanity Fair, Brunson kept it candid when asked about his future with the Knicks. “If I’m thinking about playing well to make sure I get paid, that could mess with me,” he said. “I play best when I have a free mind, and that did that for me. A lot of people say I sacrificed for the team. One hundred percent, I sacrificed for the team.”
“But most importantly, I made sure my family and I are taken care of. Obviously, we’d love for them to do right by me. I think anyone would. I feel like I sacrificed.”
In the same interview, “I’ve seen players wait and then get hurt, and then they’re at the mercy of the organization,” Brunson said, when talking about the contract. “If I’m thinking about playing well to make sure I get paid, that could mess with me,” Brunson said. “I play best when I have a free mind, and that did that for me.”
As it stands, the guard’s $113 million discount gave the Knicks much-needed cap flexibility. In 2028, he will be in line for a plush paycheck with his eligibility for a five-year, $417.8 million deal. In the same interview, the All-Star hoped the franchise would provide him a team-friendly extension.
On the season front, Brunson is on a tear, averaging 27.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 0.7 steals while shooting 47.0% from the field and 37.4% from the three-point line. He has laced up in 50 of the Knicks’ 55 games so far.
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His durability has been key for the Knicks, who are third in the East with a 35-20 record. The Knicks open their post-All-Star break campaign with a two-game homestand on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons and the Houston Rockets on Saturday.
They later play the Chicago Bulls the following night on the road, followed by two more games on the road against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks. With 27 games left in the season, all eyes will be on Brunson and the Knicks to see if they can finish their regular season on a high note and make a deeper run in the playoffs.
