Jalen Brunson signed one of the more notable contract extensions with the New York Knicks this offseason. However, the conversation hasn’t centered on the size of Brunson’s new deal, but rather how much money he left on the table with his team-friendly deal.
Brunson decided to sign his four-year, $156.5 million extension this offseason instead of waiting until the 2025 offseason. In doing so, he left about $113 million on the table, as his 2025 extension could have been worth up to $269.1 million over four years.
There has been no shortage of praise and shocking reactions to Brunson’s decision from players, analysts and fans alike. But Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green’s most recent comments on the Club 520 Podcast were a mix of praise for the Knicks star and some criticism of the decision.
Green cited his decision to sign a four-year, $100 million deal rather than wait to get $180 million, but cited his reasoning as someone having to take less money for the Warriors. He correctly explained how his situation was different with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but said Brunson didn’t need to take the discount as the “No. 1 option.”
“Not only are you the No. 1 option for the New York Knicks, and that’s awesome, but the city of New York loves you. You’re going to get that $250 [million],” Green said, via NBC Sports Bay Area.