Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey Share a Laugh Over NBA Cup Payout-Then Maxey Drops 30 in MSG Win
The New York Knicks’ NBA Cup win was more than just a historic moment for the franchise-it was a payday. For Jalen Brunson and the rest of the Knicks roster, lifting the league’s inaugural in-season tournament trophy came with a healthy bonus: over half a million dollars each in prize money. Not a bad way to ring in the holiday season, especially when it’s also the first piece of NBA silverware the Big Apple has seen in over 50 years.
But not everyone left the tournament with a check. Tyrese Maxey, for one, didn’t. And ahead of the Knicks’ matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers at Madison Square Garden, the rising Philly star made sure to let Brunson know he hadn’t forgotten.
The moment came pregame, with Maxey lounging on the massage table and Brunson walking over to greet him. What started as a friendly handshake turned into a playful exchange-Maxey, grinning, asked Brunson if he could spare some of that $530,000 bonus.
Now, this is where things got entertaining. Brunson, not missing a beat, reminded Maxey, “You make more than me.”
And he wasn’t wrong. Maxey, staying in character, denied it with a straight face, leaning into the bit.
Here’s the math: Brunson is set to earn $34.9 million for the 2025-26 season. Maxey?
He’s pulling in $37.5 million. That’s a $2.6 million edge for the Sixers guard-more than four times what Brunson pocketed from the Cup win.
So yes, Maxey could’ve covered his own “tournament bonus” and then some.
The whole thing was clearly in jest-two All-Star guards with mutual respect, sharing a laugh before tipoff. But once the ball went up, Maxey wasn’t joking anymore.
When the lights came on at MSG, it was Maxey who took over. He dropped 30 points on the Knicks, outscoring Brunson by eight and leading the 76ers to a 116-107 win. For all the pregame banter, Maxey let his game do the talking when it counted.
And while Brunson may have walked away with the Cup (and the cash), Maxey left the Garden with the win-and a reminder that he’s not just a rising star, he’s already arrived.
So, did Maxey get that $530k? Probably not. But he did get the last laugh, and on the court, that’s the currency that matters most.