LAS VEGAS — With a chance to sign the second nine-figure contract of his career, Jalen Brunson was unavailable. Negotiations, if you could even call them that, on a probable extension could not begin until the clock struck midnight (ET) Friday. Yet, long before any legalese came his way, the All-Star point guard could guess his team’s offer.
Advertisement The New York Knicks were about to hand Brunson all that they could, even if the deal would not be commensurate with a player of his stature. The team was capped at how much it could pay Brunson, limited to a contract that would earn him far less than one he could sign if he were to wait until 2025 free agency and re-up with the organization then. Brunson decided well before he became eligible that he wanted to remain in New York, that he had fallen in love with the franchise, that he valued the security of a dollar today versus more dollars tomorrow, that he wanted to continue playing for head coach Tom Thibodeau and with his Villanova buddies and that he hoped to challenge for a title on a squad that considers itself a contender this upcoming season and beyond.
But once Friday arrived, Brunson had more important plans. Instead of prioritizing business, Brunson was chilling with his dear friend and teammate, Josh Hart . He was so eager to keep hanging out with his team that he put off re-signing .
.. because he was too busy hanging out with his team.
Build him a statue 🥲 — Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 12, 2024 Brunson .
