Jalen Brunson wants the New York Knicks to take care of him on his next deal, and he is not shy about saying why.
Speaking recently, the Knicks guard made it clear: “Obviously, we’d love for them to do right by me … I feel like I sacrificed.” He added, “I think anyone would.”
The comments come after Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million extension in July 2024 that fell $113.5 million short of the maximum he could have taken. That decision helped New York stay under the second apron and preserve flexibility. Now, in two years, he becomes eligible for a five-year, max extension.
For Boston Celtics fans, this development carries upside. The Knicks already operate with one of the league’s tighter financial situations around their core. Committing massive money to Brunson long-term could restrict their ability to add complementary pieces or retool the supporting cast.
The Atlantic Division rivalry stays fierce, but salary-cap realities often decide who can reload effectively. If New York goes all-in on an aging Brunson at the top of the market, it may leave less room for the moves needed to keep pace with a Celtics team that has shown sustained success.
Brunson has earned every bit of his leverage through steady play and loyalty to the Knicks’ project. Still, the financial implications of “doing right by him” could quietly benefit the teams chasing New York in the standings, including the one in Boston.
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