USA Today via Reuters
May 14, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) runs up court after a basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half during game five of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 14, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) runs up court after a basket against the Indiana Pacers during the first half during game five of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Draymond Green could differ, but Jalen Brunson taking a pay cut has had a huge impact on the Knicks. The franchise already had a great start to the offseason with OG Anunoby’s 5-year, $212.5 million extension deal. Acquiring Mikal Bridges from the Brooklyn Nets was just the cherry on the cake. And now Brunson signing a year, $156 million deal, leaving $113 million on the table has furthered the team’s hopes for an efficient center. A move so great that even one of the rivals of the New York Knicks‘ has bent his opinion in favor of the franchise and Brunson.
We are talking about Reggie Miller. During a recent interview on USA Today Sports, the Pacers legend highlighted how the Knicks have gone all in, bringing 4 players from Villanova on the team. But does Miller now consider his once biggest rival a championship material from the East? “Absolutely,” he does. “Look, the Knicks won and are winning the offseason. And people need to understand how much team chemistry factors into winning,” the 58-year-old said.
Breaking: New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson has agreed on a four-year, $156.5 million extension, his agent told @wojespn.
The deal is $113M less guaranteed than he’s eligible to receive in one year. pic.twitter.com/ChinzPXzp8
— ESPN (@espn) July 12, 2024
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The 5x All-Star has made up his mind that with the amount of chemistry the Knicks have now, they can be called the Nova Knicks, rather than New York Knicks. “I am no longer calling them the New York Knicks, they’re the Nova Knicks,” the former shooting guard added. Notably, the team already had Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo — all three from Villanova Wildcats — on the same team. And now Bridges has been another addition as he will reunite with his Villanova buddies. No wonder Miller has such faith in the Knicks’ team chemistry now.
Although he highlighted Isaiah Hartenstein’s loss to the Thunder as an issue for the Knicks, Miller believes Julius Randall’s improved health should provide some sense of comfort. “To me, the Knicks, A++++ in the offseason,” the Pacers legend remarked, before stating that with such great team chemistry and “a true superstar” Brunson, the Knicks are poised to make a run at the Celtics.
Meanwhile, the Warriors forward Draymond Green reckons that Brunson has replicated his move.
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Draymond Green’s opinion on Jalen Brunson taking a $113 million pay cut
“He did the Draymond Green” — Green said on the Club 520 podcast. The GSW star’s reference was to his present 4-year, $100 million deal. He claimed he too could’ve taken it up to $180 million, had he not sought financial security. “I signed that [four-year contract] for [$100 million]. If I waited, I could’ve gotten four for [$180 million], but I needed to lock my money in. I’d rather lock that [$100 million] in to know that I have that [$100 million] – chasing that extra [$60 million] or [$80 million] and then I don’t get it. I just wasn’t willing to take that risk,” the 34-year-old explained.
But this was not it, as Green also pointed out a flaw in Brunson’s move. It’s no secret that the NBA has signed a new 11-year, $76 billion deal with Amazon, Discovery (ABC/ESPN), and NBC. With the deal in effect from season 2025-26, Green believes the players will get higher salaries and Jalen Brunson’s salary will look mid-level in comparison. “Don’t they realize that there is TV money coming up? The deals about to get bigger,” the veteran added.
But Brunson is probably looking for a championship, as a championship at this stage would take him a long way. That’s why Reggie Miller justified his move. The Pacers legend believes the Knicks star will anyway make more money off-court just by staying in the franchise.
Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.
