According to ESPN, Brunson's agent revealed that he agreed to a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension to give the team flexible roster space. That's $113 million less than the amount he was eligible for a year later.
Brunson's choice of a four-year, $156.5 million max contract instead of a five-year, $269 million contract in 2025 has a significant impact on the Knicks maintaining their current roster and continuing to make roster changes to close the gap to the championship.
The contract will cost Brunson $37.1 million less over the next three years, with a fourth-year player option, which would give Brunson the opportunity to recoup the remaining $113 million in 2028 through a four-year, $323 million extension or a new five-year, $418 million contract in 2029.
Salary experts analyze the salary details of Brunson's 4-year contract:
2025-26: $34.94 million
2026-27: $37.74 million
2027-28: $40.54 million
2028-29 season: $43.33 million (player option)
If Brunson waits until next year to renew his contract, he could sign up to five years, $269 million, with the following salary:
2025-26 season: $46.39 million
2026-27 season: $50.1 million
2027-28 season: $53.82 million
2028-29: $57.53 million
2029-30: $61.24 million
Brunson has every chance to wait until next year to get a bigger contract, of course, this is also for his own injury, if there is an extra year, Brunson has a greater possibility of injury, in case of injury, he may not be able to get a big contract.
But this does give the Knicks a better opportunity to strengthen, you must know that the Knicks are bleeding a lot in order to exchange for Bridges, and if they can't produce results in these two seasons, then when everyone renews the contract, the Knicks will be very embarrassed later. And at least now let Brunson be on the Knicks at his peak, in case the Knicks can't compete for the championship by then, they can also choose not to renew Brunson's contract, or sign Brunson first and then replace him to let him go to a strong team to compete for the championship, and rebuild the team by himself, the Knicks at least live a little.
And Brunson is now in an environment of 40 million to 50 million at every turn, he was still like this C last season, and his playoff performance is still not inferior to other guards, and in this case, he can not get an average salary of 40 million, the Knicks have really made money, I hope don't waste Brunson's sacrifice, and use the salary space to help him win the championship.