Jalen Brunson delivered his best season, then topped it by winning Finals MVP in June. Camp opens with that same weight back on him, and no injury news changes what he means to this roster.
The Engine
Brunson averaged 26.0 points, 6.8 assists and 3.3 rebounds across 74 games last season, playing 35.0 minutes a night. He closed it by winning Cup MVP, then Finals MVP in the same year. New York's 2026 championship runs through him, and nothing about camp changes that math.
The Efficiency
He did it without bloating his shot profile. A 29.6 percent usage rate came with a 58.0 true shooting mark and a 120.2 offensive rating, elite volume without the tradeoff most guards make at that load. He hit 36.9 percent from three on 7.1 attempts a game and made 84.1 percent of his free throws. That combination is why the offense ranked third in the league.
The Close
Brown leaned on him harder as the games mattered more. Brunson hit 30 or more in three consecutive games during that stretch, averaging 37.7 points across them, while the starting five logged 34.9 minutes a night over the same run. The workload only grew.
The Price
Brunson is owed $37.7 million this season, $40.5 million in 2027-28, and holds a $43.3 million player option after that. It is the bill for the best player on the roster, inside a $217.9 million payroll that already clears the $200.4 million luxury-tax line. Whatever New York does with the rest of the roster, his number is not the problem.
The Question
He is working through a left arm and wrist issue early in camp, expected back around October 1, well ahead of the October 20 opener against Philadelphia. The Knicks do not need a new version of Brunson. They need the same one, healthy, when it counts again.
What is Jalen Brunson's contract with the Knicks?
Brunson is set to earn $37.7 million in 2026-27 and $40.5 million in 2027-28, with a $43.3 million player option for 2028-29.
Is Jalen Brunson injured entering training camp?
Yes, he is working through a left arm and wrist issue and is expected back around October 1, ahead of the October 20 opener against the 76ers.
More from The Garden Line
all Knicks news →
Morning · Wed, Sep 16Knicks Restock Camp Bench, Ink Konchar And Eubanks
Cap watch · Tue, Sep 15Knicks Mortgaged Their Draft Boards For A Banner
The big question · Tue, Sep 15New York Bought a Champion. Can It Keep One?
Morning · Tue, Sep 15Two Knicks Walk Into Camp Already Banged Up
Morning · Mon, Sep 14Knicks Camp Opens Tight On Money, Loose On Answers
From the archives · Sun, Sep 13The Banner's Up. Now the Knicks Have to Defend It