Jalen Brunson And The Knicks Laid A Blueprint For The Rest Of The NBA

BusinessSportsMoneyJalen Brunson And The Knicks Laid A Blueprint For The Rest Of The NBAByBryan Toporek,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Bryan Toporek covers the NBA for Forbes Sports.Follow AuthorJun 05, 2026, 05:00am EDTSAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - JUNE 03: Jalen Brunson #11 of the New York Knicks looks on prior to a game against the San Antonio Spurs in Game One of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center on June 03, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)Getty ImagesBy any objective measure, Jalen Brunson should be on a max contract right now.The New York Knicks' star point guard has been named to the All-NBA second team each of the past three years. He finished 12th in MVP voting in 2022-23, fifth in 2023-24 and 10th in 2024-25, and he won the league's Clutch Player of the Year award in 2024-25 as well. If he isn't currently one of the NBA's top 10 players, he's not far off.Typically, a player of Brunson's caliber would be earning anywhere between 25-35% of the salary cap depending on how many years he's been in the NBA. Brunson, who's just finishing up his eighth season, would be eligible for as much as 30% of the cap. Instead, he’s earning less than 23% of this year’s cap. And he’s only going into the second season of the four-year, $156.5 million extension that he signed in July 2024.Perhaps Brunson won't be as magnanimous on his next contract. But his financial sacrifice set the stage for the Knicks to get within three wins of their first championship in 50-plus years. It also might be a blueprint for other stars and teams to consider as they continue to look for the best ways to navigate the NBA's second-apron era.How Brunson Helped Build The Knic...