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Jalen Brunson’s $113 million gamble changed Knicks history forever originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The New York Knicks are headed to the 2026 NBA Finals.
The Knicks swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals to appear in their first Finals in 27 years.
It's a huge accomplishment for a Knicks team that has endured shortcomings after shortcomings in the past handful of seasons. Now they are four wins away from winning their first title in 53 years.
The task won't be easy, but their star guard Jalen Brunson did all he could to make sure the Knicks reach this moment. After clinching the Eastern Conference, Brunson's "gamble" has come to light once again.
Jalen Brunson’s massive sacrifice helped build Knicks Finals team
In the summer of 2024, Brunson became eligible to sign a five-year, $269 million extension; instead, he decided to ink a four-year, $156.6 million deal. By turning that deal down, the former Villanova Wildcat sacrificed exactly $113 million.
What the Knicks did with that money is the reason they are in the Finals. The money left over helped the Knicks from office absorb high-salary and elite players. Brunson's unselfish act played a direct role in their ability to trade for stars like Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony Towns.
Not only is this sacrifice benefiting the Knicks now, but it could benefit the three-time All-Star later down the road. By taking the shorter deal, the All-NBA guard structured his contract to become extension-eligible again, positioning himself for a substantially larger supermax deal later in his career if he maintains his elite play.
Knicks await the winner between Thunder and Spurs
The Knicks will now await the winner from the Western Conference between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the San Antonio Spurs. That series is currently tied 2-2.
With the Finals commencing on June 3, the Knicks will have eight full days off before it tips off.
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