NO NBA PLAYER IS BIGGER TODAY THAN SELFLESS, TITLE-DRIVEN JALEN BRUNSON
He rejected a $269 million deal and took $113 million less, allowing the New York Knicks to reward teammates as he keeps his eye on a championship after winning two at Villanova and one in high school
Whatever Team USA is doing in the United Arab Emirates — allowing a cringey 68 points in the paint to Australia, in a 40-minute game — isn’t as significant to the NBA’s future as Jalen Brunson. We’re seeing a selfless conqueror who defies spreadsheets and mangles egotists. He has accomplished much more than scoring 40 points in 11 regular-season games and doing it four straight times in the playoffs.
This is a real human being, from my daughters’ high school in Chicago’s suburbs, who gave up $113 million in guarantees to make certain the New York Knicks have the best chance to win a championship. Rather than wait until next summer, when he could have signed a $269 million contract for five years, he signed a four-year extension for $156.5 million. Why not squeeze a franchise, as superstars have done forever and will continue to do forever?
Why not take what he rightfully can accept at 27 as the biggest athlete — sorry, Aaron Judge and 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers — in the gaudy megamarket?
Because shortchanging himself means the Knicks, who haven’t won a league title since 1973, can pay Mikal Bridges, keep OG Anunoby, retain the other Villanova kids and continue to seek helpers in the Eastern Conference. They remain under the league’s villainous “second apron” that keeps Charles Barkley fat and kills Finals contenders, forcing a quick start-and-stop for teams that must pay massive taxes, face limited trade options and sign free agents to minimum deals. This is commissioner Adam Silver’s way to prevent extreme overpayments in Golden State and Los Angeles.
Turns out Brunson, who won an Illinois state title after Michael Jordan’s era and won two NCAA championships at Nova, is addicted to team glory. The money can wait a few years, when he’ll have to stay healthy as a 6-2 guard who drives through traffic and would be eligible for a $417 million deal in 2028. The Knicks are beyond fortunate that Brunson is the godson of team president Leon Rose, who has known Jalen’s father, Rick, since he played in the NBA for nine seasons. Rose’s son, Sam, is one of Jalen’s agents. This is an all-in-the-family story rarely seen in sports. He wants to win in New York and gather ticker tape in the Canyon of Heroes.
“Gonna keep fighting every single night, that’s what we do,” Brunson said during an electric postseason. “Especially here, man — this place is unbelievable.”
Said Rose: “Jalen signing his extension to remain with the Knicks for the long-term shows the dedication and passion he has for the organization, the fans and this city. Jalen has often called the Knicks his family and we are beyond proud to have him wear and represent our orange and blue for years to come.”
Would Rose and owner James Dolan like to kiss his feet?
“Build him a statue,” tweeted Josh Hart, one of his old college mates.
Not that sports has been without benevolence. Brunson was wise to check contracts belonging to Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady and Derek Jeter, which were structured to help pay teammates. He isn’t quite a Hall of Famer yet. But if he wins it all in Madison Square Garden?
All you need to know is why his signing was delayed Friday. He was obeying a previous commitment. He was hanging out with Hart. Two years ago, when he was breaking through in Dallas, Brunson eyed the Knicks for obvious reasons: Rose and coach Tom Thibodeau, who’d hired his father to be an assistant one month earlier. “The guy did not want to stay,” said Mavericks boss Mark Cuban, who dearly wanted him to grow up with Luka Doncic.
And Chicago? Stevenson High School has its state title in 2015. Why return to the United Center, where the Bulls are stuck while the Knicks are saving $113 million? “Jalen has embraced every challenge since he’s come to New York and has been committed since day one to the vision and plan we set forth for the future,” Rose said. “Since Jalen joined us two years ago, he has consistently led by example and continues to show a willingness to sacrifice for this organization, his teammates and everyone in the Knicks family.”
In Abu Dhabi, the Americans are watching tape of a 98-92 victory. “We gave up a ton of points at the basket — back cuts, offensive boards — and so the game shifted and it's a good lesson for us,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “Better to learn that lesson now than later.” This is a team with LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, who soon will reach a $315 million agreement.
Who just signed for $269 million? Franz Wagner. He plays for the Orlando Magic. He’s the best player out of Germany since Dirk Nowitzki.
He is not Jalen Brunson. Never will be.
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Jay Mariotti, called “without question the most impacting Chicago sportswriter of the past quarter-century,’’ writes general sports columns for Substack while appearing on some of the 1,678,498 podcasts and shows in production today. He is an accomplished columnist, TV panelist and talk/podcast host. Living in Los Angeles, he gravitated by osmosis to film projects.