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4 Guards who will somehow be paid more than Knicks’ Jalen Brunson in 2023-24

By Jordanna Clark

Mar 22, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts during the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 22, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) reacts during the third quarter against the Miami Heat at Miami-Dade Arena. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New York Knicks were the league’s laughingstock last offseason after they signed Jalen Brunson to a four-year, $104 million deal in free agency. Why would the Knicks commit that kind of money to an undersized guard with one good playoff run? It didn’t take long for Brunson to answer that question once the 2022-23 season began.

With each game New York played, Brunson’s contract started to look more like a bargain. The narrative shifted from him being overpaid to being underpaid. The Knicks got their money’s worth and then some in Brunson’s first season in NYC that ended with the team’s first appearance in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 10 years.

The opening of 2023 free agency only made Brunson’s contract look better, with players like Fred VanVleet signing a three-year, $130 million contract with Houston.

Brunson made $27.7 million this past season and is on a descending contract, so he’ll make $26.3 million next season and $24.9 million in 2024-25 before having a $24.9 million player option for 2025-26. When you compare his salary for next season to what some other guards in the league will be making, it only confirms that the Knicks got an absolute steal last summer.

4: Jrue Holiday

You’re not alone if you’re still trying to figure out how Jrue Holiday was named an All-Star reserve over Jalen Brunson.

The 33-year-old is entering his fourth season with the Bucks (15th season overall) and will make $32.5 million. Holiday signed a four-year extension before the 2022-23 season worth up to $134 million if he opts into his $37.4 million player option for 2024-25.

Holiday averaged 19.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.2 steals this past season in 67 games while shooting 47.9% from the field and 38.4% from three. Brunson averaged more points than Holiday (24) and shot better from the floor (49.1%) and three (41.6%). Brunson also averaged exactly 10 points more than Holiday in the postseason.

Considering that Holiday signed his extension a couple of months after New York signed Brunson, perhaps so much negative attention shouldn’t have been placed on the Knicks’ front office.

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