GT: Pistons vs Knicks GAME 2 4/21/25 @ 7:30 pm on TNT

[GettinitDone]

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This is their superstar ?? lol

[Wildcat]

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This is their superstar ?? lol

That's a bit much. WTF did I just watch??

[Capn'O]

there was a time traveler, there was a guy who had melo's underwear, there was a talking clam.....it's been a hell of a wild ride lol

And Carl.

[dakomish23]

A lot of our wins in the playoffs last year was based on teams choking in the 4th and us turning it up. It wasn't b/c we were some unstoppable machine.

We absolutely have the ability to be such a machine and that's what I'd like to see today.

[j4remi]

there was a time traveler, there was a guy who had melo's underwear, there was a talking clam.....it's been a hell of a wild ride lol

And Carl.

And the unsolvable bus stop riddle.

[3toheadmelo]

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[Zenzibar]

Jalen Brunson is on the fast track to becoming the most beloved player in Knicks history
Brunson gave the Knicks a massive discount with his latest extension

Spoiler:

By Brad Botkin
Jul 13, 2024 at 9:58 am ET

Jalen Brunson was quickly becoming the king of New York's modern sports culture, but after giving the Knicks what will likely amount to a $37 million discount on the four-year contract extension he signed Friday, Brunson might be on his way to an even bigger title: most beloved Knick ever.

That's a behemoth of a statement, and it's probably not true quite yet. Patrick Ewing still feels like the guy with Walt Frazier and Willis Reed right alongside or behind him.

Still, Brunson, after just two years in the Big Apple, is positioned to take Ewing's throne sooner than later. Not only because of this significant bit of organizational philanthropy that will likely allow the young core of this team to stay together for potentially the next half decade but due to the entire city of New York watching him him evolve from the 2022 free agent that everyone thought was getting overpaid into a full-fledged superstar.

This Knicks fan base had reason to believe it was going to land LeBron James in 2010. Instead, New York traded the farm for Carmelo Anthony and won just seven playoff games over the next 10 seasons. This is a marquee franchise if there ever was one, and yet, Kevin Durant announced to the world that it wasn't cool to play for the Knicks as he and Kyrie Irving spurned them for their neighbor, the Brooklyn Nets, in 2019.

Brunson was just coming off his rookie season with Dallas at that point, and there was no indication that he was on a path to be anyone's franchise player, let alone one in New York. Again, when the Knicks got him in 2022, despite his high level of play with the Mavericks, it was widely regarded as a reach to pay him $104 million. It turned out to be one of the league's biggest bargains.

The overwhelming majority of players that outplay the first contract extension of their career -- especially to the extent Brunson has done so -- would be looking to secure as much money as possible on their next deal. But Brunson has potentially sacrificed as much as $113 million for the team.

Now, that number requires some context. It's really only $37 million over the next three years as outlined here; it was always unlikely that Brunson would commit to the Knicks, or anyone, beyond the summer of 2028. At that point, as a 10-year veteran, he will become eligible for the full max at 35% of the salary cap, which based on future cap projections, could equate a mind-boggling five-year extension worth more than $417 million.

Brunson definitely had his own financial motivations to sign this extension in the summer of 2024 rather than wait to the summer of 2025. That would've pushed his subsequent free-agent summer to 2029, a year beyond the minimum amount of time he now needs to wait to become eligible for his absolute maximum.

The bottom line: Even if Brunson is taking a calculated risk more directly aimed at maximizing his own ultimate payday, the prevailing perception is that he just gave up a king's ransom in the name of his team. Both are actually be true. There is no guarantee that Brunson won't get hurt, or even see his future value decline due to unforeseen market forces, and never actually realize these expected payoffs.

Perception, in this case, trumps reality. Given the money NBA superstars earn these days, there is nothing easier to get behind than a major name in a major city giving up major cash so his team can flourish. Tom Brady did it. Tim Duncan did it.

A rising tide lifts all boats, and the Knicks are definitely on the rise after trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby. This is a legitimate championship contender.

By surrendering this short-term money, Brunson is effectively ensuring that the Knicks are not a one- or two-year wonder that ultimately can't stay together long enough to realize their full potential. Team president Leon Rose waited this thing out making smart, shorter-term commitments and saving his trade capital for the right moves in Bridges and Anunoby, but Brunson's discount deal is what gives a half-decade run a realistic outlook in this new second-apron world.

It's almost impossible to put a value on what that means to a Knicks fanbase that has been yearning for a savior. Carmelo didn't work out. LeBron, KD and Kyrie, they all said no. Brunson, after admitting he would have stayed with the Mavericks had they offered him the $55 million for which he was eligible to sign, has become the surprise superstar nobody saw coming; the gift that, whether in the form of his basketball or contractual heart, keeps on giving.

New York loves him for this -- even more than it already did. Eventually, probably more than it has ever loved any Knicks player.

[Zenzibar]

Ausar Thompson takes shot at Jalen Brunson in middle of playoff series

Spoiler:

Story by Darryn Albert, Larry Brown Sports • 14h • 2 min read

It took Jalen Brunson all of one game to get under the skin of one opposing player.



Detroit Pistons forward Ausar Thompson spoke with reporters after team practice on Sunday. During the session, Thompson was asked about the challenge of defending the New York Knicks star Brunson and responded with some shade, talking about how Brunson supposedly sells fouls.

“Just don’t foul him,” said Thompson of Brunson, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Post. “He’s good at drawing fouls. Well, he’s good at selling – selling – fouls. So you just got to be smarter.”

Thompson, who stands 6-foot-6 with a wingspan of 7-feet, is regarded as Detroit’s top one-on-one defender and thus drew Brunson as his primary defensive assignment during Game 1 of the series on Saturday. But the Knicks ended up beating the Pistons 123-112 as Brunson finished with 34 points and eight assists (including going 8/10 from the free throw line).

At the very least, the two-time All-Star Brunson has certainly mastered the art of getting whistles. He shot a career-high 6.9 free throws per game during the regular season, which ranked fifth in the NBA. That is an improvement over last season when Brunson ranked 12th in the league with 6.5 attempts per game.

But many opposing fans (and some opposing players themselves) believe that Brunson gets to the line so often by embellishing contact. In previous years, other playoff opponents of the Knicks have shaded Brunson over his style of play, and Thompson is now joining that category as well.

[Wildcat]

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This kid hitting Joel-tier of dislike. Not quite there, yet, but he's making a strong case for honorable mentions.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

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Amen and him

[LFGK]

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This kid hitting Joel-tier of dislike. Not quite there, yet, but he's making a strong case for honorable mentions.

let em talk, that's all they'll do.

[knicks1999]

I really want to see Bridges breakout these playoffs and stop being so passive

[Capn'O]

there was a time traveler, there was a guy who had melo's underwear, there was a talking clam.....it's been a hell of a wild ride lol

And Carl.

And the unsolvable bus stop riddle.

****.

[GettinitDone]

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This is their superstar ?? lol

That's a bit much. WTF did I just watch??

Baby mama or manager??

[HerSports85]

What happened to Mikal's confidence? Hopefully we get this guy at some point during these playoffs. We need him.

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[MrDollarBills]

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This is their superstar ?? lol

That's a bit much. WTF did I just watch??

This is WEIRD. Eat the fruit before warming up wtf?

Grown ass man being fed

[MrDollarBills]

What happened to Mikal's confidence? Hopefully we get this guy at some point during these playoffs. We need him.

Watch on YouTube

I'm gonna just say it: regardless of what happens this playoffs, Leon needs to shop Mikal.

His contract extension is going to push his salary to 40m+.

It's not worth it. If you can turn him into two rotation players that fill needs and get a pick back, do it.

[Signature NYK]

What happened to Mikal's confidence? Hopefully we get this guy at some point during these playoffs. We need him.

Watch on YouTube

I'm gonna just say it: regardless of what happens this playoffs, Leon needs to shop Mikal.

His contract extension is going to push his salary to 40m+.

It's not worth it. If you can turn him into two rotation players that fill needs and get a pick back, do it.

Odds are he's playing himself out of a substantial pay increase right now...

Which could be a blessing in disguse. If he takes less to secure himself financially and then kicks up while being give a less dollar amount than he could have we could be benefitting from a down year re-up.

Wishful thinking all around I know but these the lucky breaks dynastic teams be getting...

[HopelessKnick]

What happened to Mikal's confidence? Hopefully we get this guy at some point during these playoffs. We need him.

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I'm gonna just say it: regardless of what happens this playoffs, Leon needs to shop Mikal.

His contract extension is going to push his salary to 40m+.

It's not worth it. If you can turn him into two rotation players that fill needs and get a pick back, do it.

Odds are he's playing himself out of a substantial pay increase right now...

Which could be a blessing in disguse. If he takes less to secure himself financially and then kicks up while being give a less dollar amount than he could have we could be benefitting from a down year re-up.

Wishful thinking all around I know but these the lucky breaks dynastic teams be getting...

His confidence has been shaky all season long really. I highly doubt Leon is going to shop him---I mean he gave up 5 FRPs for him....it would be a pretty bad look on Leon if he turned around and traded him after 1 year. I think the most likely scenario has the team rolling it back next season while trying to upgrade the bench and after next year's second round loss they can make changes while having saved face. Yeah kinda sucks I know but that's how it mostly works.

But also keep in mind that Bridges has some serious leverage despite his play. He knows the price we gave up for him and that him walking away would be a major blow to Leon. Really Leon boxed himself into a bad position with that irrational high price. He is doomed to extend Bridges and likely pay more in salary than he is worth next to having already paid a much too high price.

[ctorres]

What happened to Mikal's confidence? Hopefully we get this guy at some point during these playoffs. We need him.

I think he is fine.

Last game, he got to rest for a while. Mikal comes in the 4th quarter I think and Brunson immediately set him up for a middy

Mikal probably has the best mid-range game out of anyone in the series. It's going to come in handy in the playoffs when teams figure out how take away the paint and the three.