Jalen Brunson’s decision to leave money on the table in 2024 is looking better by the day, and the next payoff could be enormous.
According to a report from The Athletic’s Fred Katz, the Knicks star is projected to land a four-year, $290 million extension that would begin in the 2028-29 season. Katz wrote, “Jalen Brunson is projected to land a MASSIVE 4-year, $290 MILLION extension when his new contract kicks in during the 2028-29 season,” and later added, “In 2028-29, Jalen Brunson's new contract will begin,” Katz wrote. “All signs point to the NBA Finals MVP earning a significant raise, a projected $290 million over four years.”
If that number holds, Brunson would be clearing more than $70 million per season.
It’s a far cry from the reaction he got in 2022, when his four-year, $104 million deal with New York was widely viewed as an overpay. Then came 2024, when Brunson chose a four-year, $156.5 million extension rather than waiting for a deal that would have been worth roughly $269 million. That decision cost him about $113 million, but it also gave the Knicks room to build around him.
That extra flexibility helped fuel a title run, and the Knicks are now NBA champions for the first time in more than 50 years. Brunson was named Finals MVP, and the front office has spent this offseason trying to keep the books manageable, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Josh Hart still without extensions as New York works to stay under the second apron.
Brunson already delivered the ring. The next step, if this projection proves right, is the massive payday that matches his status.
In Other News...
Tyler Kolek Is Handling A Tough Knicks Reality The Right Way
Tyler Kolek has spent much of his early Knicks run in a familiar NBA holding pattern: waiting for a real opening while trying to make the most of the minutes he gets. The third-year point guard has kept the right attitude through that uncertainty, talking about the need for consistency, confidence and aggression in his own game while also showing the kind of perspective that comes from sharing a backcourt with Jalen Brunson.
For a young player, that can be a tricky spot to navigate, especially when the rotation is crowded and the outside noise never really stops. Kolek has handled it by staying focused on improvement instead of dwelling on the frustration, but his role in New York still feels unsettled, and his next chance to build momentum may come only if the situation around him changes. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Face One Clear Roster Choice As Camp Battle Looms
The Knicks still have two open roster spots as camp approaches, but the path to filling them is not nearly as simple as it looks on paper. With limited flexibility, the front office appears to be leaning toward adding a younger big man, with several options in the 25-to-29 age range under consideration as the team continues to shape the back end of the roster.
There is also the matter of how much room can be created if the Knicks want to do more than one addition before camp truly settles in. Final roster decisions could end up hinging on trades and what the coaching staff values most, which leaves the next move tied as much to fit as to availability. Pacme Dadiet has reportedly been shopped in that mix, a sign the Knicks are still trying to balance present need with a little extra roster flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
Knicks Title Defense Starts With A Costly Contract Tension
The Knicks are heading into camp with some familiar names and a familiar kind of front-office pressure, even after the high of a championship run. Karl-Anthony Towns, Josh Hart and Miles McBride are all in line for contract conversations, but a new deal before the regular season begins does not appear likely for any of them. Towns is the priciest piece of the group and already has a player option on the horizon, while Hart and McBride come at the issue from different roster and salary angles.
For now, the organization is treating the situation carefully rather than letting it spill into something more disruptive. There is no sign of holdouts, and the Knicks have reason to keep the focus on continuity as they defend their title. Hart is also working through a finger injury as camp opens, another layer to manage, but the bigger storyline may be how long these talks stay in the background before they become part of the daily noise around the team. [Read more 🡒]