Jalen Brunson Hopes Knicks 'Do Right' in Next Contract

Knicks star says he 'sacrificed' on last deal to stay in New York

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Jalen Brunson, the superstar point guard for the New York Knicks, admits he 'sacrificed' on his last contract extension to stay with the team. Now, he is hoping the Knicks will 'do right by me' when it comes time to negotiate his next deal, which could be a max contract worth over $400 million.

Why it matters

Brunson's team-friendly deal has been crucial to the Knicks' resurgence as an NBA powerhouse, helping the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals last season. As one of the league's elite point guards, Brunson's next contract will be a major test for the Knicks' ability to retain their star player and continue their championship aspirations.

The details

Brunson signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension with the Knicks before the 2024-25 season, a deal that was considered team-friendly. Had he waited just one more year, he could have potentially made $113 million more on an identical contract. Now, Brunson has a chance to make that back by opting out of his current deal following the 2027-28 season, when he will be eligible to sign a max deal worth $417.8 million over five years.

  • Brunson signed his current four-year, $156.5 million contract extension with the Knicks before the 2024-25 season.
  • Brunson will be eligible to opt out of his current deal and sign a max contract worth $417.8 million over five years following the 2027-28 season.

The players

Jalen Brunson

A superstar point guard for the New York Knicks who has been an All-Star for the past three seasons and helped lead the team to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.

Leon Rose

The president of the New York Knicks, who will be responsible for negotiating Brunson's next contract with the team.

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What they’re saying

“If I'm thinking about playing well to make sure I get paid, that could mess with me. I play best when I have a free mind, and that did that for me. A lot of people say I sacrificed for the team. 100% I sacrificed for the team. But most importantly, I made sure my family and I are taken care of...”

— Jalen Brunson, Knicks Guard (Vanity Fair)

“Obviously, we'd love for them to do right by me. I think anyone would. I feel like I sacrificed.”

— Jalen Brunson, Knicks Guard (Vanity Fair)

What’s next

Brunson will have the opportunity to opt out of his current contract and sign a max deal worth $417.8 million over five years following the 2027-28 season. The Knicks will need to decide whether to offer Brunson that lucrative contract to keep him in New York.

The takeaway

Jalen Brunson's team-friendly contract extension has been crucial to the Knicks' recent success, but the star point guard is now hoping the team will 'do right by' him when it comes time to negotiate his next deal. The Knicks will face a major test in retaining one of the NBA's elite players and maintaining their status as an Eastern Conference powerhouse.