Most NBA players want to maximize their value while they still can, not knowing what the future will hold for them.
They don’t usually take pay cuts, not even for the sake of the team.
Of the biggest names in the game, perhaps only Dirk Nowitzki knowingly did so over and over.
LeBron James got a lot of praise for a $20 million pay cut he didn’t even take, and he only took about a $2.7 million pay cut in the end.
That’s why Jalen Brunson’s decision to leave $113 million on the table was so shocking.
With that in mind, ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton graded this deal as an ‘A’ for the New York Knicks.
.@kpelton‘s grade for Jalen Brunson’s extension with the Knicks is in ✍️
More: https://t.co/jlAAPwTvmT pic.twitter.com/8F4Sqp7Tgx
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) July 14, 2024
The Knicks got Brunson to sign an extension one year earlier, and they will now have significantly more salary cap flexibility because of that.
That will help them not only keep Brunson’s friends around for longer but also keep adding more pieces to pursue an NBA championship.
As for Brunson, this could also end up being the right decision in the future, financially.
By the time his contract runs out, he’ll be eligible to sign a massive contract that could get him as much as $80 million per year.
This speaks volumes about his commitment to the team and his confidence in his game.
Hopefully, betting on himself this way will pay off, and other athletes will take a page from his book when they’re sitting at the bargaining table.
NEXT:
Insider Details Massive Salary Jalen Brunson Could Make In 2028
