Brunson puts NBA, Knicks in good nick

NEW YORK - This off-season, New York Knicks star guard Jalen Brunson signed a four-year, US$156.5 million (S$204.4 million) contract extension with the team.

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That may seem like a lot of money, but it is US$113 million less than he would have been eligible for next off-season because of the complex algebra structuring National Basketball Association (NBA) contracts.

He made his decision to help free up money to fill out the roster around him with players who can help the team win a championship, something they have not done since 1973.

He is not the first athlete to do this. Tom Brady, Derek Jeter and Patrick Mahomes did the same thing, but it is a largely selfless move in a profession where there is not always a ton of selflessness.

"It's simple," Brunson said in August. "I want to be here, I want to show that actions speak louder than just talking about stuff. I want this team to be together for a long time. I want to win here, that's it."

His decision to sacrifice for the greater good cemented his place in Knicks lore.

But could Brunson re-energise the league, too? Yes, the NBA is in a comfortable spot - it trebled its media rights deal in July when it agreed to a US$76 billion package with Disney, Comcast and Amazon.com.

But the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks averaged only 11.3 million viewers a game, according to Nielsen, a three-year low.