New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson slashed a whopping $113 million off his potential earnings with a contract extension back in 2024, a massive financial sacrifice aimed at giving his squad the flexibility to build a contender. Fast forward just two years, and the gamble paid off spectacularly: the Knicks captured their first NBA championship in 53 seasons. It was a move that redefined what “team first” truly means, but don’t expect Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant to follow suit.
Brunson’s Unprecedented Sacrifice Paved the Way for a Title
Brunson’s 2024 deal was a four-year, $156.5 million max contract. Here’s the kicker: if he had waited just one more year, he would have been eligible for a staggering five-year, $269 million deal in 2025. That’s a cool $113 million he left on the table, all to help his team. And the Knicks didn’t waste that financial headroom. One month before Brunson’s deal, they locked up OG Anunoby to a five-year, $212.5 million contract. Soon after Brunson signed, the Knicks traded for Brooklyn Nets wing Mikal Bridges, extending him a year later for four years and $150 million. They even added Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns via trade in October 2024. That’s how you build a champion, right? Brunson’s move truly was an unprecedented financial sacrifice, and you cannot argue with the results.
Durant Explains Why He’d Get “Talked Out Of It”
When asked if he would make a similar move to Brunson’s, Durant did not mince words during the latest edition of Boardroom Talks. “I mean, I don’t think I would be advised to do that. I mean, I would have got talked out of it,” Durant stated. He continued, saying, “I probably would have been like, ‘All right, I’m cool with it.’ And then I’d have sat down and talked to all my people like I usually do, [Rich Kleiman], all my friends, everyone would have been like, ‘What are you serious? Why do you need to take that risk when this dude’s a billionaire?’”
It’s a fair point about the ownership, and Durant understands Brunson’s reasoning. “You know what I’m saying? But I understand his thought process and why he actually executed that. I can’t put myself in that position and just say, yeah, I would have did it or not. But for him to make that decision and then come out the way it did, kudos to him, but hopefully he gets that back at the back end.” It shows the push and pull players face between personal wealth and the desire for a ring.
Brunson made a bet on himself and his team, and it paid off with a title. Durant, however, makes it clear that while he respects the move, he’s listening to his advisors when it comes to leaving money on the table. It leaves you wondering: how many more stars are willing to make that kind of sacrifice, especially when their inner circles are asking, “Why take that risk?”
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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