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4:55pm: Brunson’s extension with the Knicks is now official, according to a team press release (Twitter link).

“Jalen signing his extension to remain with the Knicks for the long-term shows the dedication and passion he has for the organization, the fans and this city,” Knicks president Leon Rose said in a statement. “Jalen has often called the Knicks his family and we are beyond proud to have him wear and represent our orange and blue for years to come. Jalen has embraced every challenge since he’s come to New York and has been committed since day one to the vision and plan we set forth for the future of this team.

“Since Jalen joined us two years ago, he has consistently led by example and continues to show a willingness to sacrifice for this organization, his teammates and everyone in the Knicks family.”

4:10pm: Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson has agreed to a four-year, $156.5MM contract extension, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports (Twitter link).

As Wojnarowski observes, the deal is a massive financial concession for a contender, since Brunson could have been eligible for a five-year, $269MM deal next offseason. By signing an extension now, Brunson is allowing the Knicks to maintain some spending power to retain a contending core — highlighted by Brunson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges, Josh Hart and more — for at least the next few seasons.

Because Brunson can’t receive more than a 40% raise on his 2024/25 salary of $24,960,001 in the first year of an extension, his new deal will start at $34,944,001 in ’25/26, replacing the player option on his current contract.

It’s an unprecedented move for the All-Star guard who finished fifth in MVP voting last season. The deal does cost Brunson $37.1MM over the next three years, but there’s a way for the Villanova product to recoup the value he’s sacrificing in the short term down the line. Brunson’s deal includes a fourth-year player option. He could sign a four-year, $323MM extension in 2028 or a new, five-year, $418MM deal in 2029.

The Knicks signaled their belief in this being a championship core when they traded multiple first-round picks to acquire Bridges earlier this summer. Bridges is only under contract for two more seasons at a modest AAV of $24.1MM over those two seasons. With Brunson taking this short-term paycut, the Knicks have more flexibility to re-up Bridges for the long term. Bridges is eligible for a four-year, $156MM deal next offseason — if he were to sign that deal, it would represent another below-market rate to help keep this Knicks team together.

This move by Brunson also allows New York to duck the second apron in the first year of the extension, thereby allowing them to dodge the restrictive penalties that would have followed.

According to Fred Katz of The Athletic, Brunson will receive a 50% advance on his salary at the start of each season of the extension (Twitter link).

A solid rotation player in Dallas during the first four years of his career, Brunson has become a star over the past two seasons with New York, averaging 26.5 points and 6.5 assists while shooting 48.4% from the field and 37.3% from beyond the arc during that time. Those two seasons have been among the most successful in recent Knicks history. The team’s .610 win percentage last season has only been topped once since 2000 (in 2012/13).