The NBA is one of the most commercially successful business leagues in the world, and high salaries have become the standard trophy for stars. It's no exaggeration to say that whether you're a genius who can always put up a lot of stats, or you have a skill set that will benefit your team, then you have a chance to get a big contract that gives you financial freedom. In the new season, Jokic, Embiid, Brother Alphabet, Lao Zhan, Tatum, Curry, these super max-paid men have all played a dominant role that matches their value, and there are also some stars who have narrowed the distance with the next big contract with their outstanding performance, such as Brunson, the big man of the New York Knicks.
Turning the clock back to the 2018 draft, Brunson missed the first round and started his NBA career as a second-round scout. For the Mavericks, their choice of Brunson was just a "scratch the lottery" mentality; But for Brunson, the opportunity was a lifesaver. Luckily, Brunson grabbed at this lifeline and established himself in the NBA with his own efforts. Especially in the playoffs of the 20-21 season, Brunson was sharp, averaging 216 points +46 rebounds +3A six-assist accolade helped Doncic lead the Mavericks to the Western Conference finals. In the end, the Knicks brought Brunson's talent to New York with a four-year, $100 million contract, and this contract also took Brunson's career to a new level.
The Knicks not only gave Brunson a big contract, but also gave Brunson unlimited rights, and Brunson's playing style was also deeply appreciated by Thibodeau, he completely realized his talent and let himself go, and led the team to the Eastern Conference semifinals in the first year of joining the Knicks. In the new season, the Knicks are back, and Brunson shines, stunning the world again and again. Playing the Bucks on November 4, Brunson blasted 45 points + 5 rebounds + 4 assists; Playing the Pistons on December 1, Brunson angrily slashed 42 points + 6 rebounds + 8 assists; On December 16, Brunson scored 50 points + 6 rebounds + 9 assists against the Suns; Playing the Wizards on January 19, the Knicks slashed 41 points + 8 rebounds + 8 assists; Playing the Raptors on January 21, Brunson scored another 38 points + 5 rebounds + 9 assists. This is Brunson, the new king of New York!
Between seasons, Brunson played in 46 games, averaging 35 minutes per game and averaging 268 points +38 rebounds +65 assists +2Eight three-pointers were made to 48 percent, 42 percent and 83 percent from three6%, Brunson is the Knicks' model worker, scoring champion & assist leader. Especially after the Knicks completed the Anunoby trade, the team has improved by leaps and bounds, and Brunson has completely come to his comfort zone, playing the role of the team's commander and key man! According to the NBA's official website, the Knicks had a 14-2 record in January, outscoring their opponents by 246 points, the highest in NBA history, second only to the Bucks in the 1970-71 season (287 points). Brunson, meanwhile, had a plus/minus of +256 in January, ranking first in the league, ahead of Anunoby (+252), Harden (+181), George (+176) and Mitchell (+174).
Former Warriors general manager Myers said about Brunson on a podcast: "In the 2018 draft, Brunson's college coach asked me why no one picked Brunson in the first round, and my answer was that Brunson was too short to maintain his college singles level in the NBA, and it turned out that I was wrong, and I regret not choosing him. That's right, Brunson is not only able to play singles, but also is good at playing tough battles, and has now become a real star icon. In the previous All-Star vote, Brunson ranked third in the East in terms of total points, losing to Haliburton and Lillard, and missed the Eastern All-Star start. But in the eyes of many, Brunson deserves a spot as an All-Star starting guard in the East more than Lillard.
With the Knicks' No. 3 record in the East and Brunson's outstanding consistent output, I believe Brunson will definitely have a chance to become an All-Star backup guard in the East. Take 10,000 steps back, even if Brunson can't make it to the All-Star, he has completed the transformation from a second-round pick to a new king in New York, making a lot of money, a proper winner in life! Currently, Brunson has three years left on his contract, with a salary of $26.4 million this season, $24.9 million next season, and a player option worth $24.9 million in the final year. According to NBA salary expert Bobby Marks, Brunson is eligible to sign a four-year extension with the Knicks in the offseason$5.6 billion contract. In this era of $200 million contracts, I believe the Knicks will not let go of the opportunity to lock in the big head with an average salary of $40 million, and the key depends on whether Brunson is willing to settle down. Fans, what do you think about this? Leave me a review**.
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