Just a few years ago, Jalen Brunson was nothing more than a solid reserve guard for the Dallas Mavericks.
That all changed when he signed with the New York Knicks in the summer of 2022 on a four-year, $104 million contract. A deal that at the time, many criticized as an overpay.
Turns out, Brunson was severely underpaid. No one could have possibly predicted that Brunson would become as good as he is today when he signed with the Knicks. Since arriving in New York, he’s averaging 26.4 points and 6.7 assists per game, and has been named an All-Star, and All-NBA in each of the last two seasons. In the playoffs, he’s averaging 29.9 points per game as a Knick.
Brunson’s arrival immediately turned the Knicks into contenders in the Eastern Conference, and many agree that his free agency signing in 2022 is one of the best any team has ever made. CBS Sports’ Robby Kalland ranked the signing the sixth best NBA free agency signing since 2000.
“Brunson is unquestionably the best player the Knicks have had since Carmelo Anthony, and there is a serious argument he's already surpassed Melo thanks to his postseason success and is only looking up at Patrick Ewing and Clyde Frazier,” Kalland said. “Brunson hasn't led the Knicks to a championship (yet), but it's rare for a team to acquire a true franchise player on the free agent market. If this were a list of "best tampering fines ever paid," New York would be at the top for giving up a second rounder for their efforts in prying Brunson out of Dallas.”
Brunson and the Knicks enter next season as one of the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. He and the rest of the Knicks’ core are locking in for the next several seasons, giving the team multiple shots at securing its first title since 1973.