Three NBA All-Stars React to Jalen Brunson’s Shocking Knicks Contract

A few days ago, Jalen Brunson signed one of the most historic bargain contracts in NBA history with the New York Knicks. He agreed to a four-year extension worth $156 million, $113 million less than what he was entitled to. A contract that shocked both NBA fans and players.

On an episode of The Gil’s Arena, three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas praised Brunson for being willing to take such a shocking cut for the team.

“You talk about friendship, woo my God,” Arenas said. “Woo, it was friendly. If he had played until the end of the year, it would have been at least $270 million. If you look at any franchise, if you look at any dynasty, it’s because of contracts like this.”

While Gilbert Arenas praised Brunson for taking the deal, he also heeded a warning. The former Memphis Grizzlies guard hopes Brunson has another contract waiting for him, because the NBA is a business.

“The fact that he sacrificed that much money to continue to build himself, while he was still in great shape, shows how determined he is to win,” Brunson said. “I applaud him, I wouldn’t have done it. They should have signed me to another contract, it’s the NBA, it’s a business, and you can’t trust anybody.”

Jalen Brunson’s willingness to take such a low contract gives the New York Knicks the opportunity to sign even more great players. In Arenas’ eyes, he compared it to Steph Curry taking a discount so the Warriors could land Kevin Durant. Hopefully the Knicks will get the same result.

“What he did is a great thing for the organization because I don’t think they would have been in a championship window if that didn’t happen,” Arenas said. “What they can do with the money they saved is go get franchise players. Just like Steph is a franchise player, and they went get Kevin Durant. They can do that, this franchise can actually go get an Embiid, they can sign a Luka, because they have that much money.”

The pressure is now on for the New York Knicks. Jalen Brunson has done his part, and now the Knicks must do theirs and bring in the talent to win a championship.