Report: Mikal Bridges To Follow Jalen Brunson’s Lead, Sign Team-Friendly Extension With Knicks

August 2, 2024

According to NBA insiders Bobby Marks and Tim Bontemps of ESPN, Mikal Bridges will follow Jalen Brunson‘s lead and sign a team-friendly extension with the New York Knicks in the fall or next offseason.

NBA, Knicks, Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges — Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

Brunson signed a four-year, $156 million extension with the Knicks this offseason. He left over $113 million on the table by not signing an extension next offseason.

“Bridges, meanwhile, is eligible to sign a two-year, $60 million extension from Oct. 1 through Oct. 21 — the day before the start of the regular season — or he could become eligible to sign a four-year, $156 million extension off his current deal, which is currently viewed as one of the league’s best value contracts, next offseason,” Marks and Bontemps wrote. “The $34.8 million first-year salary would begin in 2026-27.”

Bridges averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.4 blocks in 2023-24 for the Brooklyn Nets while shooting 43.6% from the field, 37.2% from beyond the arc and 81.4% from the free-throw line. The forward will make $23.3 million next season.

One of the top two-way players in the NBA, Bridges has career averages of 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.6 blocks with the Phoenix Suns and Nets. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.

Brunson will make $24.9 million next season. He averaged 28.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists for the Knicks in 2023-24 while shooting 47.9% from the field, 40.1% from beyond the arc and 84.7% from the free-throw line.

In Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Brunson fractured his left hand against the Indiana Pacers. He finished the 2024 playoffs with averages of 32.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 7.5 assists against the Philadelphia 76ers and Pacers.

Brunson has career averages of 16.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists with the Dallas Mavericks and Knicks. He was the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft out of Villanova.

The Knicks are expected to compete for the title next season with Brunson, Bridges, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Donte DiVincenzo leading the way.