The ongoing NBA offseason is witnessing a whole lot of trades, acquisitions, and contract extensions dominating the headlines! However, very few were able to make the headlines like Jalen Brunson, whose latest multi-million dollar sacrifice gave the New York Knicks a chance to enhance their roster. His actions caught the eye of Charles Barkley. who showered his praises on the 27-year-old.

Spending his time at the ongoing American Century Championship event in Nevada, the former Philadelphia 76er, took some time out for a ‘Q & A’ session on ESPN earlier today. Barkley proceeded to highlight his belief on how Jalen Brunson is a “great kid” and one “hell of a player.” Furthermore, he believed that in an NBA world where franchises like the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers will continue to dominate with their existing roster for years to come, leaving a few extra dollars for the Knicks would go a long way in adding new players and making a difference.

“So, I think he realized ‘Hey, for me to make a few extra million dollars and we’re not gonna be competitive, nobody wants to do that,’” said Barkley. “So, I’m happy for that kid, he’s a great kid, and man, kudos to him.”

After being named to the All-NBA Second Team during the recent NBA season, combined with his prominent role within the New York Knicks franchise, Jalen Brunson was eligible to sign on to a five-year, $269.1 million extension by the next off-season. However, he ignored the same and instead signed a contract for a four-year, $156.5 million extension. By sacrificing over $113 million in pay, Brunson eased the financial burden on his franchise. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Brunson’s deal allows the New York Knicks to save over $37.1 million in future cap savings, preventing them from crossing the dreaded Second Apron Limit and leaving them with some capital for future acquisitions.

At the moment, Charles Barkley reportedly does not hold a high opinion about the NBA management. The same issue stems from the recent troubles that TNT is facing in retaining their NBA media rights while the league is looking to sell those off to Amazon, ESPN, and NBC. The same will allow the NBA to have a presence in the streaming platforms market. This caused Barkley to lash out at both the management and the players recently by stating, “Well, I think that you got greedy players and greedy owners. They don’t really care about anything but how to make the most money possible. We should never put money above the regular fan. Everybody can’t afford streaming.”

Now, thanks to Jalen Brunson, Charles Barkley may once again start having some faith in the modern players.

Josh Hart and Knicks president praise Jalen Brunson’s sacrifice

Similarly to Charles Barkley, it didn’t take long for others to send out their praise to Jalen Brunson for taking a discount on his extension.

Amongst the first people to make their voice heard was Brunson’s teammate and shooting guard Josh Hart. Hart couldn’t be more elated as he took to his official X account and stated that he and the other members of the Knicks roster are “pouring honey” on him. Feeling that this praise wasn’t enough, the player also went on to state that Brunson is well-deserving of a statue that needs to be built as a proper tribute.

Knicks president and millionaire Leon Rose was also ecstatic about this recent news. He put out an official statement that praised Brunson for showing a serious amount of dedication and passion for the organization through his financial cut. Furthermore, he believed that not only the Knicks, but fans from all over the City of New York would send out their love to the player.

“Jalen has often called the Knicks his family and we are beyond proud to have him wear and represent our orange and blue for years to come” said Rose. “Since Jalen joined us two years ago, he has consistently led by example and continues to show a willingness to sacrifice for this organization.”

What do you think of Jalen’s gesture? Let us know in the comments below!

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about the Lakers legend’s infamous feud with the late Kobe Bryant.