Jalen Brunson is the latest big-name player to join the Knicks: Jason Kidd played a big part in getting him his big paycheck.
110 million isn’t uncommon in today’s NBA, with more than 150 million contracts regularly signed. It is unusual, however, that jalen brunson I got that kind of money from the New York Knicks. Famous for underpaying superstars and overpaying actors, Brunson falls on the cusp of both.
Having only played 4 seasons in the NBA, Brunson reached his senior year. He showed glimpses of being the star he can be, but in glimpses. The young point guard has only made $6.1 million in his lifetime and suddenly he’s poised to make four times that in a year. For a player who has only surpassed 15 points in a season, 24 million seems excessive.
And it is, all things considered. But knowing what potential you can achieve, that money is a sound investment. jason kidd, his former head coach, feels the same way. He knows what the players ultimately want. Everyone likes to say that he wants to play more, but in the end he talks about the money. They chose this profession for one reason only: the money that comes with fame.
Jalen Brunson secured a big money contract right at the start of his career. With astute financial planning, he should be set up for life, as long as he doesn’t crash like Kidd’s ex-partner. Delonte West.
Also Read: “Knicks Didn’t Give Kevin Durant Top Deal, Will They Pay Jalen Brunson $110M Now?”: NBA Twitter still stumped by team management of New York franchise.
Jason Kidd knows what a player goes through: Jalen Brunson getting his big money move is something only a former player can understand
Having played for 19 years in the NBA, Jason Kidd knows what it feels like to lose a lot of money. It wasn’t until his tenth year that he earned more than 10 million a year. And even then, the growth was short-lived because he took a pay cut to win a championship. That kind of mentality may be seen as benevolent by owners, but from a player’s perspective, it’s reckless.
No owner, not even cuban frame, is faithful to all its players. Other than a few names like Dirk Nowitzki and Damian Lillard, his teams haven’t treated many players well. It only makes sense for him to be loyal to the bank account instead of the team. Better to be like John Wall and make money than Isaiah Thomas and be out of the league.
Every former player turned manager knows the pain of leaving money on the table for the betterment of the team. These acts of charity do not always turn into something fruitful. In rare cases where they win a championship, the bonuses are not enough to cover the money lost. Jalen Brunson was right to ask for more money because that’s the norm now.
Also read: “Yeah, I remember facing Steve, I had Michael Jordan”: Jason Kidd’s hilarious response to facing the Warriors coach during his game days
