Talking on Thursday to reporters, together with Stefan Bondy of The New York Publish, Knicks guard Jalen Brunson defined why he was keen to just accept a four-year, $156.5MM contract extension this summer season. The deal was the largest one Brunson was capable of signal at this level, however he may have landed a considerably extra profitable payday if he had waited one other 12 months.
“Precedence A, I secured I believe an honest amount of cash to assist myself and my household, my prolonged household within the present time. I didn’t have to attend a 12 months,” Brunson mentioned. “Like I mentioned, loads can occur in a 12 months. Everybody on this room has seen loads occur in a 12 months when gamers wait out. In order that’s one factor. No. 2 — I’d like to be right here, I wish to be right here the remainder of my profession. And successful trumps the whole lot I do individually. Like I mentioned, once you win as a workforce, people can develop from that. That’s on the entrance of my thoughts always — what can I do to win?”
Whereas Brunson can have an opportunity down the highway to make up a lot of the cash he “misplaced” by signing an early extension, his deal will present the Knicks with added cap flexibility for the following few seasons. The veteran level guard instructed reporters that he has studied team-first champions from different sports activities, similar to Tom Brady and Derek Jeter, and that he took these examples into consideration when making his resolution.
“First, Tom Brady and Derek Jeter are in a category of their very own. I’m not saying I’m part of that class,” Brunson mentioned. “Second, these dudes are the epitome of successful. They did no matter it took to win. That was on the forefront of their minds. I simply knew if I did this, it might give us numerous flexibility and put us in place to win.
“And I do know that lots of people don’t agree with it. Lots of people are saying it’s not the good factor from a private standpoint. However I simply know — I’m snug right here. That is house for me. I don’t fear about what anyone else says, what they assume. That’s their opinion. They’ll have it.”
Right here’s extra on the NBA’s two New York groups:
- The Knicks, who acquired Mathias Lessort‘s draft rights again in 2020, inquired earlier this offseason concerning the 28-year-old’s curiosity in coming stateside, based on Ian Begley of SNY.television. Nonetheless, the 2 sides weren’t capable of finding widespread floor, says Begley. Vincent Collet, the top coach of the French nationwide workforce, lately expressed shock that Lessort isn’t within the NBA.
- In a dialog with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Nets level guard Dennis Schröder talked about rising up in Germany, taking part in within the Olympics, and his need to stay in Brooklyn for the ultimate 12 months of his present contract — and probably effectively past that. “I wish to be in Brooklyn long-term. Hopefully that works out,” Schröder mentioned. “I wish to be a veteran who exhibits the younger folks the way in which and the way we should always play and the way we play as a workforce. I perceive that the NBA is at all times extra particular person, however I wish to make one workforce like we had in Atlanta the place it was about simply successful and actually not (caring) who scores. And I wish to carry that again to the NBA, to the Brooklyn Nets.”
- Whereas lots can change between now and July 2025, the Nets are presently the one workforce projected to have important cap room subsequent summer season, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Even earlier than accounting for potential in-season trades and/or extensions, cap projections can range considerably relying on which cap holds and choices are assumed to be on the books, however Keith Smith of Spotrac (Twitter hyperlink) additionally tasks Brooklyn to have probably the most cap house of any workforce in 2025.
