Jalen Brunson had more than just the New York Knicks' finances in mind when he agreed to a four-year, $156 million extension this summer.
Sure, Brunson's extension helps the Knicks avoid the second apron so they have more avenues to build their team. If Brunson had waited one more year to become a free agent, he would have been eligible for a five-year, $269 million contract.
In essence, Brunson left $113 million on the table.
However, during a press conference on Thursday, Brunson also told reporters that the security of an extension played heavily into his decision to sign now instead of waiting a year for more money.
"Anything can happen in a year," Brunson said, adding: "I secured myself for the future."
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Later, Brunson reiterated that he wanted to lock in the money while he could.
"I secured I think a decent amount of money to support myself and my family and my extended family, foremost," Brunson said of his decision. "In the current time, I didn't have to wait a year. Like I said, a lot can happen in a year. Everyone in this room has seen a lot happen in a year when players wait out [signing a contract]."
In the aftermath of Brunson's extension, much of the discussion centered on how Brunson's sacrifice will help the Knicks continue to build the roster.
But for Brunson, signing an extension as soon as he could protects him from nightmare scenarios where his play is drastically impacted by an injury. Brunson, after all, is a small guard who plays a physical brand of basketball and is coming off a season in which carried a heavy offensive load for the Knicks. Those types of players haven't always aged well. Although the Knicks are something of a family organization to Brunson, there is no guarantee that he was going to get the five-year, $269 million contract next summer, even if the front office had hypothetically "guaranteed" it.
By signing his $156 million extension, Brunson locked in money through 2028. And it's not as if $156 million is nothing to Brunson — it's still the biggest contract of his career.
Brunson also told reporters that winning "trumps everything," and that the idea of sacrifice also played into his decision. He said everyone on the team stands to benefit if the Knicks compete for a title — presumably a suggestion about off-court opportunities.
"When we win as a team, individuals can grow from that; everyone can eat from that," Brunson said.
If Brunson can keep up his All-Star-level play over the next four years, he will also really have the opportunity to cash in. By 2028, Brunson will be eligible for a five-year, $417 million contract. We'll see if Brunson leaves money on the table then.