Jalen Brunson is eligible for extension this offseason but should he re-sign? Examining the All-Star's options

The Knicks star can re-sign now, or wait a year for far more

Jalen Brunson wanted to re-sign with the Dallas Mavericks in 2021. He was eligible for a four-year extension worth roughly $56 million, and as low as that figure seemed at the time, Brunson was risk-averse. "I want to be safe," Brunson said about his thought process at the time on All the Smoke. "I'm not trying to gamble right now. This is not something you really gamble with if it's out there." The Mavericks declined to offer Brunson such an extension. Now he's a New York Knick. Year Salary 2025-26 $34,944,001 2026-27 $37,739,521 2027-28 $40,535,041 2028-29 $43,330,561 Total $156,549,124 Year Salary 2025-26 $46,530,000 2026-27 $50,252,400 2027-28 $53,974,800 2028-29 $57,697,200 2029-30 $61,419,600 Total $269,874,000

Three years later, a similar situation is playing out for Brunson, but in reverse. This time, his team is incredibly eager to re-sign him. Brunson has evolved into one of the NBA's best offensive players and the face of the Knicks. In all likelihood, he is going to remain in New York for the foreseeable future. It's only a matter of what sort of contract gets him there, and this time, it isn't clear that an extension is his best option.

NBA rules allow players like Brunson to sign a contract extension that starts at 40% above his previous salary and includes 8% raises annually. The issue for Brunson is that his current $107 million contract not only paid him less than he is now worth but actually descends in terms of annual salary. Brunson will make less next season than he did this season, and that also lowers the starting threshold on a possible veteran extension. If Brunson does extend this offseason, the most new money he could add to his deal would be roughly $156 million over four years. Under this arrangement, Brunson would decline his 2025-26 player-option, and his extension would kick in then. Here's what that deal would look like: