Report: Jalen Brunson Open To Signing Extension With Knicks This Summer

According to NBA insider Steve Popper of Newsday, Jalen Brunson is open to signing an extension with the New York Knicks this summer. 

Brunson is eligible to sign a four-year, $156.5 million extension this offseason. He’s not super max eligible because he signed a free-agent contract with the Knicks in July 2022. 

"I've heard whispers that Jalen Brunson would be open to discussions to do [an extension] this summer" – @StevePopper

Ian, Steve, and @JCMacriNBA talk about how Julius Randle's season-ending injury will affect the Knicks on The Putback with @IanBegley: https://t.co/StRtXmwONG pic.twitter.com/jcdK6uJAqC

— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) April 4, 2024

Brunson signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the Knicks in 2022. He’s making $26.3 million this season and will make $24.9 million next season.

The lefty has a player option worth $24.9 million for the 2025-26 season. 

One of the top players in the NBA, Brunson is averaging 27.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists this season while shooting 47.5% from the field, 39.7% from beyond the arc and 84.2% from the free-throw line. He scored a career-high 61 points on March 29 versus the San Antonio Spurs. 

Brunson, 27, is fourth in the NBA in points, fourth in points per game, 15th in assists and 13th in assists per game. The Villanova product is expected to make one of the three All-NBA teams. 

The Knicks are 44-31 on the season. They are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference standings.

If the regular season ended today, New York would face the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2024 playoffs. The Knicks lost to the Miami Heat in the second round of the 2023 postseason in six games. 

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr told NBA reporters that Brunson is “high on the list” of potential players to represent the United States at the Paris Olympics this summer. Kerr is the head coach of Team USA. 

“There’s a reason he’s on our list. Because he’s a great, great player and high character, a leader,” Kerr said, via The New York Post. “He’s everything you want as a player. He’s high on our list and he’s definitely somebody we’re considering.”

Brunson has career averages of 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists with the Dallas Mavericks and Knicks. He was the 33rd overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.