Knicks All-Star's contract called 'ridiculous bargain' by NBA writer

New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson stands out as a glaring anomaly among NBA superstars due to his salary.

Brunson is a bona fide MVP candidate, but his paycheck doesn’t reflect it. 

At $24.96 million for the 2024-25 season, Brunson’s contract is not just a bargain; it’s a steal of historic proportions for the Knicks.

Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley wrote about this on Friday.

Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

“What would you guess an in-prime MVP candidate might cost at the moment?” Buckley wrote.

“Well, if you're Nikola Jokić or Giannis Antetokounmpo, the answer sits somewhere north of $48 million. Jalen Brunson, meanwhile, makes half of that. His $24.96 million salary slots him just 64th overall this season, sandwiched between the almost-always-injured Jonathan Isaac and the colossally disappointing Terry Rozier.”

“That's a ridiculous bargain, and it doesn't even factor in the roughly $113 million he saved the Knicks on the extension he signed last offseason."

"For that relatively minuscule amount, Brunson gave the 'Bockers this season's 10th-most points per game (26—on 48.8/38.3/82.1 shooting, no less) and 11th-most assists (7.3—against just 2.5 turnovers).”

“Oh, and the 28-year-old has somehow found an even higher level of hooping in the playoffs. What. A. Steal.”

Brunson will be in action on Friday night in the biggest moment of the season for the Knicks: Game 6 at Madison Square Garden with an opportunity to close out the defending champion Boston Celtics.

More NBA: Nuggets predicted to pair Nikola Jokić with 'alpha scorer' in blockbuster deal