Report: Jalen Brunson Could Sign $156 Million Extension With Knicks This Summer

“Jalen Brunson turned out to be a bargain free-agent signing two years ago at $107 million for four years,” Popper wrote. “All indications are he won’t hold the team up now, and that he’s willing to sign a four-year, $156 million contract extension. That would remove his fourth season from the current deal and provide five more years of certainty in New York, rather than waiting until next summer for a five-year, $270 million extension.”

Brunson is not super max eligible because he signed a free-agent contract with the Knicks in July 2022. The lefty signed a four-year, $104 million contract with New York.

Brunson will make $24.9 million next season. He averaged 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Knicks in 2023-24 while shooting 47.9% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc and 84.7% from the free-throw line. 

A New Jersey native, Brunson is expected to make one of the three All-NBA teams this year. He was fourth in the NBA in points and fourth in points per game. 

The Knicks went 50-32 during the regular season. They defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of this year’s playoffs in six games but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the second round in seven games.

Brunson fractured his left hand in Game 7 against the Pacers. He finished the 2024 playoffs with averages of 32.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists. 

Brunson has career averages of 16.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists with the Dallas Mavericks and Knicks. He was the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Villanova.

Fred Katz of The Athletic reports that the Knicks are “targeting the upcoming summer as the time to trade for the next big name.” It will be fascinating to see if New York’s front office can acquire another star.