Is Jalen Brunson's contract the best in the league?

[nate33]

Jokic and SGA have the best contracts given their production and durability. One could make the case that Brunson is third though.

[sp6r=underrated]

He has a very strong case for best contract in the NBA but naming players on rookie contracts or superstars on max contracts is obtuse. Every team would gladly pay Wemby or Jokic's contract.

It shouldn't need to be said that when you're asking for which player is on the best contract not including players on rookie or max contract.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

Next season he'll have the 49th highest salary, here's a short list of players that will make more than him.

Suggs
Ayton
LaVine
Siakam
Bam
Murray
LaMelo
Ingram
Porter Jr.
Bane


Top 10 player making $1.6 million more per year than Jalen Green and $2 million more than Immanuel Quickley

[bbms]

arguably yes

[UglyBugBall]

The best contract in the league is the Jokic's

Really?
Seems high for second round exits every year.

How'd your boy Luka do in the second round this year?

He sucked. But can you admit the same about your boy Jokic? That's the difference between me and Jokic stans. They'll never admit when their guy fails.

[sp6r=underrated]

Really?
Seems high for second round exits every year.

How'd your boy Luka do in the second round this year?

He sucked. But can you admit the same about your boy Jokic? That's the difference between me and Jokic stans. They'll never admit when their guy fails.

My esteem for Jokic will change when he starts playing 50 game season relying on his teammates to get him in the post-season

[Deivork]

Is there any truth to the rumors that he took money under the table?

[LethalRangee]

Is there any truth to the rumors that he took money under the table?

His father is an assistant coach and his Godfather is the team’s GM, so he’s kind of indirectly benefitting from that, otherwise there’s no proof to show it.

[Lockdown504090]

The best contract in the league is the Jokic's

building around a supermax player is very challenging in 2025. as good as joker is, if the nuggets had him on the same deal as brunson, theyd be able to have 2 more rotation players and probably be the best team in the association.

[Scalabrine]

Yes…but it’s an underpay so Josh & Mikal could get overpaid a little, so you kinda have to consider all 3 deals together.

How on earth is Josh Hart overpaid?

He makes less money than Dillon Brooks, John Collins, Miles Bridges, Kyle Kuzma, Andrew Wiggins.

He makes just a couple million more than Jonathan Isaac, Rui Hachimura, Patrick Williams, Duncan Robinson, PJ Washington.

I'd personally take him over every single one of those guys.

[cgf]

Yes…but it’s an underpay so Josh & Mikal could get overpaid a little, so you kinda have to consider all 3 deals together.

How on earth is Josh Hart overpaid?

He makes less money than Dillon Brooks, John Collins, Miles Bridges, Kyle Kuzma, Andrew Wiggins.

He makes just a couple million more than Jonathan Isaac, Rui Hachimura, Patrick Williams, Duncan Robinson, PJ Washington.

I'd personally take him over every single one of those guys.

I guess this depends on how you view Hart as a starter. If you think he’s ideally a 6th or 7th man, then dedicating that much of your cap to him is an overpay. If you think he’s a great starter it’s fine. I’m in the camp that thinks he’s upgradable as a starter but an elite bench guy, so IMO he’s getting 3-5M a year extra for being Brunson’s buddy.

As for specific players, Brooks is a better defender and shooter, so deserves to be paid more. Ditto Nembhard, who will make a little more than Hart next season. Those guys are more comparable to Mikal than Josh. Then there are non-centers like Caruso, Herb, PJ Washington, DFS, Coby White, DDV, Nesmith, Avdija; who are making less money while making a comparable or greater impact.

His deal is fine…he’s no Grant / Vassell / Wiggins / Kuzma / Collins…but he’s closer to those guys making 11-15M than those making 20-24.

[Scalabrine]

Yes…but it’s an underpay so Josh & Mikal could get overpaid a little, so you kinda have to consider all 3 deals together.

How on earth is Josh Hart overpaid?

He makes less money than Dillon Brooks, John Collins, Miles Bridges, Kyle Kuzma, Andrew Wiggins.

He makes just a couple million more than Jonathan Isaac, Rui Hachimura, Patrick Williams, Duncan Robinson, PJ Washington.

I'd personally take him over every single one of those guys.

I guess this depends on how you view Hart as a starter. If you think he’s ideally a 6th or 7th man, then dedicating that much of your cap to him is an overpay. If you think he’s a great starter it’s fine. I’m in the camp that thinks he’s upgradable as a starter but an elite bench guy, so IMO he’s getting 3-5M a year extra for being Brunson’s buddy.

As for specific players, Brooks is a better defender and shooter, so deserves to be paid more. Ditto Nembhard, who will make a little more than Hart next season. Those guys are more comparable to Mikal than Josh. Then there are non-centers like Caruso, Herb, PJ Washington, DFS, Coby White, DDV, Nesmith, Avdija; who are making less money while making a comparable or greater impact.

His deal is fine…he’s no Grant / Vassell / Wiggins / Kuzma / Collins…but he’s closer to those guys making 11-15M than those making 20-24.

I just gave you a list of guys that make 20-24 million that he's better than.

I would be really surprised if more people on this board would take either Brooks or Nemhard over Hart and I don't think either are better overall defenders. Harts a great defensive player, who hustles every single play and closes out possessions and attacks boards like none of those guys. Brooks is a fake tough guy and his defense is overrated. Brunson absolutely torched Nembhard last playoffs to the point where he needed to be moved to Dante.

Give me a comparison of a guy making 11-14 million that is as good as Josh Hart. Ideally one that most people don't view as underpaid.

[cgf]

How on earth is Josh Hart overpaid?

He makes less money than Dillon Brooks, John Collins, Miles Bridges, Kyle Kuzma, Andrew Wiggins.

He makes just a couple million more than Jonathan Isaac, Rui Hachimura, Patrick Williams, Duncan Robinson, PJ Washington.

I'd personally take him over every single one of those guys.

I guess this depends on how you view Hart as a starter. If you think he’s ideally a 6th or 7th man, then dedicating that much of your cap to him is an overpay. If you think he’s a great starter it’s fine. I’m in the camp that thinks he’s upgradable as a starter but an elite bench guy, so IMO he’s getting 3-5M a year extra for being Brunson’s buddy.

As for specific players, Brooks is a better defender and shooter, so deserves to be paid more. Ditto Nembhard, who will make a little more than Hart next season. Those guys are more comparable to Mikal than Josh. Then there are non-centers like Caruso, Herb, PJ Washington, DFS, Coby White, DDV, Nesmith, Avdija; who are making less money while making a comparable or greater impact.

His deal is fine…he’s no Grant / Vassell / Wiggins / Kuzma / Collins…but he’s closer to those guys making 11-15M than those making 20-24.

I just gave you a list of guys that make 20-24 million that he's better than.

I would be really surprised if more people on this board would take either Brooks or Nemhard over Hart and I don't think either are better overall defenders. Harts a great defensive player, who hustles every single play and closes out possessions and attacks boards like none of those guys. Brooks is a fake tough guy and his defense is overrated. Brunson absolutely torched Nembhard last playoffs to the point where he needed to be moved to Dante.

Give me a comparison of a guy making 11-14 million that is as good as Josh Hart. Ideally one that most people don't view as underpaid.

You picked out the most overpaid guys, yes, now look at some of the other guys in that range and be a little more objective about Josh’s defense in comparison to Brooks & Nembhard’s. Or are you going to bring up the same metrics that say Josh is a better defender than Mikal and OG?

And not only did I give you a list of guys who are comparable to Hart or better while making less than he does, but I even excluded centers from the list: Caruso, Herb, PJ Washington, DFS, Coby White, DDV, Nesmith, Avdija

[One Last Shot]

Maybe Andrew Nembhard, there's no way he won't get atleast $30m per year if he's a free agent this offseason, lucky Pacers lock him up for less than $60m in the next 3 years, in comparison Paul George will get paid $57m in the last year of his contract in 2027. Nembhard is averaging 15/6 in 64 TS% and shooting 53% 3PT in more than 4 attempts per game while being the most underrated defender in the NBA. It's really fun to be a Pacers fan right now as their team is providing us few of the most exciting games in playoffs history.

[Godymas]

Really?
Seems high for second round exits every year.

How'd your boy Luka do in the second round this year?

He sucked. But can you admit the same about your boy Jokic? That's the difference between me and Jokic stans. They'll never admit when their guy fails.

I’d rather fail with 3 MVPs and a ring than fail with nothing and nothing

What’s the difference between Kevin Durant and Luka at the same age? 3 scoring titles and an MVP

[Optms]

Pretty close to it. It's crazy how reliable he is. He essentially plays at a top 5 level every post season. Not to mention being the best 4th quarter player.

[JRoy]

Other than rookie contracts it's still Reaves.

100% Austin Reaves. He's getting paid 12.9m this season and 13.9m next before a player option that he is all but guaranteed to opt out of in 27.

~20/6/5 on 61.6%TS this year.

It’s Avdija. He plays d.

[Sixers in 4]

How come noone is mentioning Payton Pritchard

[LethalRangee]

How come noone is mentioning Payton Pritchard

Because he’s a bench player and mostly plays against other bench players.

[hauntedcomputer]

Avdija is also on a great contract.

Yeah, steadily improving (17/7/4 on 37 percent from 3) with a descending contract. Depending on your cap space and need, you can argue it's better than Brunson's. Numbers would be even better if Blazers didn't have to roll out Grant once in a while to keep him alive as trade bait.
2025-15.6
2026-14.4
2027-13.1
2028-11.9
2029- UFA