Without a doubt, Jalen Brunson is the most giving superstar the front office of the New York Knicks has ever worked with. Carmelo Anthony, a former member of the club, even acknowledged that he would never have agreed to forgo a $113 million salary in order to benefit the team.
Anthony spoke with Paul George, a star player for the Philadelphia 76ers, about Brunson’s historic choice on Wave Sports + Entertainment’s “Podcast P.”
“Is he getting that on the back end?” George asked. “Because you’ve been a Knick legend.”
“I’m not doing it,” Anthony responded, followed by laughter from both sides.
Anthony earned just over $262.5 million over his entire career, so it’s easy to see why Brunson’s pay cut looks crazy to him. The 2003 third overall pick even pointed out that the idea of Brunson making the money back off the court is ludicrous.
“He left $113 million on the table. I know when he’s moving around New York he ain’t paying for s—t, he’s a New York legend already,” George continued. “Is he making that back up on the back end?”
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“Listen, you can’t make $113 million off the court,” Anthony replied. “People are busting their a– out there, and they’re not making $113 million off the court. You’re talking about people off the court or off the field for years, who are the biggest stars out there, and they’re not making $100 million off the court. That right there is different. He’s making something, he should be making something. $113 million on the back end is crazy.”
While Brunson will undoubtedly make extra cash from endorsements, commercials, and other avenues, nine figures is still a lot of money to leave on the table. The Villanova alum did it, of course, to help New York’s salary cap flexibility in its quest for a championship.
How will Brunson’s legacy compare to Anthony’s when he hangs up the sneakers?
Carmelo Anthony is a Knicks legend, but Jalen Brunson could eventually be the franchise GOAT
Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire helped put New York back on the map after several forgettable seasons, leading the club to three straight playoff campaigns from 2010-13. However, the Knicks fell back to the bottom after “Melo” signed his five-year, $124 million max extension with them in 2014. Due to a mixture of bad drafting, trades, and free-agent signings, the club didn’t recover until Julius Randle arrived in 2020-21.
Brunson’s arrival, though, has set the club up for long-term success. The 27-year-old has already led the team to two playoff series wins in just two seasons, more than Anthony achieved. Additionally, New York nearly beat the Indiana Pacers in the second round last season, despite being plagued by injuries.
The Brunson-led Knicks should only improve from here. The arrival of fellow Villanova alum Mikal Bridges will bring them closer to the elusive Larry O’Brien Trophy, especially since Bridges is expected to take a team-friendly deal down the line, according to CBS Sports.
Whether or not Brunson brings New York a championship, there’s no denying that he has done everything in his power to make it happen.