The New York Knicks reached the NBA mountaintop in June by winning the NBA Finals for the first time since 1973.
The team’s current superstar is Jalen Brunson. He is officially a New York City legend, and his story includes the fact that he left $113 million in potential earnings on the table to sign with the Knicks. But what’s interesting is that a franchise legend once admitted that he’d never take a paycut.
Knicks Legend Carmelo Anthony Shares His Take on Jalen Brunson’s Financial Decision
Anthony was vocal about why he would always pursue the most money possible.
Carmelo Anthony says he would not have left $113,000,000 on the table like Jalen Brunson because you can’t make that back through off court earnings
“I’m not doing it. Listen, you can’t make $113 million off the court. Peoples are busting their ass out there, and they’re making… pic.twitter.com/V8Hv9mXCZ5
— dank (@cptdankkk) August 1, 2026
“I’m not doing it,” Anthony said on George’s podcast two years ago.
“Listen, you can’t make $113 million off the court. People are busting their [expletive] out there, and they ain’t making $113 million off the court. And I’m talking about people who’ve been off the court or off the field for years and years, who are the biggest stars out there, they not making $100 million off the court,” he added.
Anthony notes that the massive $113 million is not something players can earn off the court, especially once their careers are over. That is why most players seek to maximize their earnings while they are at the peak of their playing powers.
“That right there is different,” Anthony continued. “He’s making something. He should be making something. $113 million, to make that up on the back end is crazy. I don’t know the logic and the thinking behind why he did it.”
Fast forward to 2026: Brunson won the chip with the Knicks, and his pay cut proved effective for the team. There’s a common misconception that Brunson took a $113 million pay cut. But New York Post’s Knicks writer Stefan Bondy recently reported that the actual amount that Brunson didn’t take is $37 million.
So, yes, Brunson technically left some money on the table. But once his new extension is signed, he will still earn generational money and should be set for life once his time on the court is over.
But the fact that he gave the Knicks some financial freedom means that the team will have more flexibility to build its roster. Especially now that the East is much more competitive, the Knicks would have to capitalize on every opportunity to improve their roster.
NBA contracts have skyrocketed in value since Anthony last played. His total career earnings were roughly $262 million, which is less than what Brunson may make on his next contract alone. So it’s understandable why he would be shocked at Brunson’s financial move.
Yet times are changing, and current NBA stars are making sums never seen before. That may be something hard for former players to wrap their heads around.
