The New York Knicks may not have had the best offseason of any team in the NBA, but they have had a very solid one.
It started with their big trade for Mikal Bridges, a high-level two-way wing who can score 15-20 points and play excellent defense, and it continued days later when they gave 3-and-D wing OG Anunoby a big contract extension.
On Friday, New York gave guard Jalen Brunson, their superstar and franchise player, a four-year, $156.5 million extension that will ensure he remains with the team for years to come.
Josh Hart, Brunson’s fellow starting guard on the Knicks, said on social media that Brunson deserves a huge honor, per NBA on ESPN.
Josh Hart’s reaction to Jalen Brunson’s contract extension with the Knicks 😅 pic.twitter.com/U8Pn7mRYBM
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 12, 2024
For many years, the Knicks were perennial laughingstocks, but that began to change when Brunson arrived via free agency two years ago.
They have made the playoffs and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals in both of his seasons with them, but their run this spring was particularly exciting and promising.
They dumped the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, then took the run-and-gun Indiana Pacers to seven games before succumbing to a rash of injuries.
Brunson averaged 28.7 points and 6.7 assists a game in the regular season while making his first All-Star team, and he reached the 40-point mark five times in 13 playoff games this spring.
For the first time in what seems like forever, New York appears to be a legitimate championship contender, and thus there should be plenty of excitement at Madison Square Garden this coming season that could very well stretch into late May or June of 2025.
