Jalen Brunson reflects on significant contract sacrifice for Knicks

Jalen Brunson led the New York Knicks to their first NBA title since 1973, scoring 45 points in a pivotal Game 5 against the San Antonio Spurs on June 13, 2026. Brunson's performance earned him Finals MVP honors as he averaged 32.6 points per game in the series. In a postgame interview, he addressed his decision to take a pay cut of approximately $113 million when signing a four-year contract extension in 2022, stating it was '100% worth it' even without the championship. Brunson's 45 points marked a new franchise record for a Finals game, surpassing Willis Reed's previous mark of 38 set in 1970. He will earn $40.5 million in the 2027-28 season with a player option for 2028-29.

• 12:11 AMYahoo Sports — Knicks' Jalen Brunson has blunt response to $113 million question