Stephen A. Smith believes Jalen Brunson’s team-friendly contract has complicated future Knicks negotiations, forcing teammates to rethink salary demands as New York balances roster upgrades and financial flexibility.
The talks around Jalen Brunson are not stopping anytime soon. Immediately after winning the historic NBA championship, the 29-year-old is looking to run it back. Looking ahead to the recent celebrations, the Knicks are planning to add some value to the roster. And amidst all the hype, Stephen A. Smith has dropped an interesting take on how things will pan out regarding the Knicks’ finances.
In a recent statement, Smith reflected on how Brunson has made it difficult for his teammates to negotiate their contracts. According to the NBA analyst, because of the 29-year-old, most New York players will have to reconsider their figures if the team needs financial flexibility.
“Who is anybody else … to come forward and say, ‘Dammit, I ain’t shaving a penny off my demands!’…
Nobody is in a position to do that because Jalen Brunson didn’t do it,” said Smith.
“Who is anybody else … to come forward and say, ‘Dammit, I ain’t shaving a penny off my demands.’ … Nobody is in a position to do that because Jalen Brunson didn’t do it.”@stephenasmith weighs in on the Knicks’ financial future after winning the NBA title 💰 pic.twitter.com/6drh7njFde
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 18, 2026
Well, back in July 2024, the 6-foot-2 star signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract with the Knicks. Surprisingly, by doing this, Brunson left a hefty $113 million on the table. If only he had waited till the summer of 2025, the star player would have been eligible for a massive $269.1 million deal.
At the moment, the Knicks have several players approaching the max or supermax negotiation threshold. However, while trying to chalk out the best deal, these players might be hesitant to put forth their demands. And it’s all because of how the 2026 NBA Finals MVP left a whopping $113 million on the table.
ESPN’s Jay Williams said, “I’ve talked to a couple of different players that could be Supermax this year or next year. They’re starting to feel a little pressure from team owners by saying, ‘Yo, Jalen Brunson left $113 million on the table. What are you going to do?”
Jay Williams:
“I’ve talked to a couple of different players that could be Supermax this year or next year — they’re starting to feel a little pressure from team owners by saying, ‘Yo, Jalen Brunson left 113 million dollars on the table. What are you going to do?’”
(via… pic.twitter.com/aTCr04KcRx
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) June 16, 2026
Thus, it is evident that things are looking a bit complicated at the moment. And as the celebrations run deep, fans will wait to see how the contract dilemmas are sorted out.
