Sports

Jalen Brunson has agreed to the greatest financial favor in NBA history

Published

1 year ago

July 15, 2024

Jalen Brunson has agreed to the greatest financial favor in NBA history

LAS VEGAS — With a chance to sign the second nine-figure contract of his career, Jalen Brunson was unavailable.

Negotiations, if you could even call them that, on a probable extension could not begin until the clock struck midnight (ET) Friday. Yet, long before any legalese came his way, the All-Star point guard could guess his team’s offer.

The New York Knicks were about to hand Brunson all that they could, even if the deal would not be commensurate with a player of his stature.

The team was capped at how much it could pay Brunson, limited to a contract that would earn him far less than one he could sign if he were to wait until 2025 free agency and re-up with the organization then.

Brunson decided well before he became eligible that he wanted to remain in New York, that he had fallen in love with the franchise, that he valued the security of a dollar today versus more dollars tomorrow, that he wanted to continue playing for head coach Tom Thibodeau and with his Villanova buddies and that he hoped to challenge for a title on a squad that considers itself a contender this upcoming season and beyond.

But once Friday arrived, Brunson had more important plans.

Instead of prioritizing business, Brunson was chilling with his dear friend and teammate, Josh Hart. He was so eager to keep hanging out with his team that he put off re-signing … because he was too busy hanging out with his team.

Build him a statue 🥲
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) July 12, 2024

Brunson put pen to paper on the extension Friday afternoon, a historic moment for the Knicks. No one else in league history has recommitted himself to a franchise in this fashion.

The extension will pay him $156.5 million over four years, $113 million guaranteed less than he could have received had he waited until free agency. No player has ever left this much money on the table — especially not one in the early part of his prime.

The NBA’s most famous cases of major discounts occurred with players who had already received giant paydays. Dirk Nowitzki took a three-year, $25 million deal to return to the Dallas Mavericks in 2014 when he could have earned nearly four times as much had he chosen to, but Nowitzki was already in his mid-30s. Tim Duncan chopped chunks off his salary so he could play forever with the San Antonio Spurs, but he was an established vet by that point.

Brunson is opting for the cheaper contract today instead of hitting free agency a year from now when he would be eligible for a max contract worth a projected $269.1 million over five years.

There were financial arguments for why locking in the money was worthwhile. Brunson appreciated the security an extension would provide. This is still more money than some CEOs make in a lifetime. He may as well protect himself against injury.

Signing an extension now also makes him eligible for his next extension a year earlier than if he had waited until free agency to sign the five-year pact. Those extra 365 days could matter.

But there’s a reason this is a remarkable moment. The Knicks are now open for business in an era bound to be dominated by a punitive collective bargaining agreement that will stifle the flexibility of any hyper-expensive team.

Based only on the dollars, Brunson just enacted the greatest financial favor in NBA history.

And it’s not close.

He signed with one priority in mind: Take whatever reasonable measures he could to go after that ring. The Knicks can now move forward knowing they have Brunson under a team-friendly contract through at least 2028. His new deal will kick in for the 2025-26 season, and he has a player option for the final year. It comes with all the bells and whistles, including a 15 percent trade kicker, a league source said.

New York’s hopes of staying below the dreaded second apron, not just in 2024-25 but also in the following season and possibly beyond, just turned far more realistic. The Knicks, who traded five first-round picks (including four unprotected ones) for Mikal Bridges earlier this offseason, already believe their title window is open. The Brunson extension just scooted the glass up even more, especially through 2026.

Bridges is on a bargain contract until then, making $23.3 million this season and $24.9 million after that. Brunson will earn in the realm of $34.9 million during his first year of the deal when the Knicks will have $153.2 million committed to nine players: Brunson, Bridges, Hart, OG Anunoby, Mitchell Robinson, Donte DiVincenzo, Miles McBride, Pacome Dadiet and Tyler Kolek. The second apron projects to be approximately $207.8 million that season.

Staying under $207.8 million in payroll would create valuable resources for the Knicks. If they go over that threshold, they kiss goodbye to the midlevel exception, the ability to make most trades and more.

Brunson may receive the chance to earn most of the money he gave up back. As The Athletic detailed earlier this week, the extension sets him up to hit free agency in 2028 following his 10th year in the NBA. He will be eligible for the largest max contract a player can receive, worth a projected $417 million over five years. If Brunson were to sign that, spiked salaries in 2028-29 and 2029-30 would narrow the gap.

But 2028 is four years into the future. No one knows what will occur between now and then.

Players get hurt. They regress. Small point guards such as Brunson are historically more prone to such misfortune. For whatever reason, the Knicks could fall off by then and choose to turn in a different direction. They could employ a new front office or coach. This is the NBA, where sweeping changes can occur overnight, let alone over four years.

There is no guarantee Brunson will make back this money. But of course, he didn’t do this to get rich. He did it to hand his team the best chance to win.

(Top photo of Jalen Brunson: Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images)

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Sports

Winter Olympics venue near site of 20,000 dinosaur footprints, officials say

Published

2 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

Winter Olympics venue near site of 20,000 dinosaur footprints, officials say

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A handful of Olympic participants will be competing where giants once roamed.

A wildlife photographer in Italy happened to come upon one of the oldest and largest known collection of dinosaur footprints at a national park near the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics venue of Bormio, officials said Tuesday. The entrance to the park, where the prints were discovered, is located about a mile from where the Men’s Alpine skiing will be held.

In this photograph taken in September 2025 and released Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, by Stelvio National Park, Late Triassic prosauropod footprints are seen on the slopes of the Fraeel Valley in northern Italy. (Elio Della Ferrera/Stelvio National Park via AP)

The estimated 20,000 footprints are believed to date back about 210 million years to the Triassic Period and made by long-necked bipedal herbivores that were 33 feet long, weighing up to four tons, similar to a Plateosaurus, Milan Natural History Museum paleontologist Cristiano Dal Sasso said.

“This time reality really surpasses fantasy,” Dal Sasso added.

Wildlife photographer Elio Della Ferrera made the discovery at Stelvio National Park near the Swiss border in September. The spot is considered to be a prehistoric coastal area that has never previously yielded dinosaur tracks, according to experts.

AMERICAN FIGURE SKATING STAR ALYSA LIU WINS GOLD AT GRAND PRIX FINAL

This photograph, taken in September 2025 and released Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, by Stelvio National Park, shows a Late Triassic prosauropod footprint discovered in the Fraele Valley in northern Italy. (Elio Della Ferrara/Stelvio National Park via AP)

The location is about 7,900-9,200 feet above sea level on a north-facing wall that is mostly in the shade. Dal Sasso said, adding that the footprints were a bit hard to spot without a very strong lens.

“The huge surprise was not so much in discovering the footprints, but in discovering such a huge quantity,’’ Della Ferrera said. “There are really tens of thousands of prints up there, more or less well-preserved.’’

Though there are no plans as of now to make the footprints accessible to the public, Lombardy regional governor Attilio Fontana hailed the discovery as a “gift for the Olympics.”

Lombardy region governor Attilio Fontana attends a press conference in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, on a discovery of thousands of dinosaur tracks in Lombardy region. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

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The Winter Olympics are set to take place Feb. 6-22.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

Sports

High school basketball: Boys’ and girls’ scores from Tuesday, Dec. 16

Published

3 hours ago

December 17, 2025

Press Room

High school basketball: Boys’ and girls’ scores from Tuesday, Dec. 16

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
TUESDAY’S RESULTS

BOYS
CITY SECTION
Downtown Magnets 103, Aspire Ollin 12
Sotomayor 67, Maywood CES 28
Stern 35, Rise Kohyang 33
Triumph Charter 68, LA Wilson 51
University Prep Value 66, Animo Venice 52
WISH Academy 79, Alliance Ted Tajima 16

SOUTHERN SECTION
AGBU 63, Newbury Park 51
Arcadia 82, Glendale 34
Baldwin Park 57, Pomona 23
Banning 90, Bethel Christian 26
Big Bear 89, University Prep 45
Calvary Baptist 58, Diamond Bar 57
Chino Hills 78, CSDR 31
Citrus Hill 76, San Gorgonio 30
Corona 58, Granite Hills 17
Crescenta Valley 73, Burbank Burroughs 43
Desert Chapel 69, Weaver 34
Desert Christian Academy 56, Nuview Bridge 19
Eastvale Roosevelt 53, Hesperia 52
Eisenhower 67, Bloomington 52
El Rancho 55, Sierra Vista 52
Elsinore 72, Tahquitz 36
Estancia 68, Lynwood 30
Entrepreneur 72, Crossroads Christian 41
Harvard-Westlake 86, Punahou 42
Hesperia Christian 59, AAE 39
La Palma Kennedy 41, Norwalk 34
Loara 67, Katella 41
Long Beach Cabrillo 74, Lakewood 55
Long Beach Wilson 75, Compton 64
NSLA 52, Cornerstone Christian 33
Oxford Academy 66, CAMS 42
Public Safety 54, Grove School 41
Rancho Alamitos 58, Century 28
Redlands 52, Sultana 51
Rio Hondo Prep 68, United Christian Academy 24
Riverside Notre Dame 55, Kaiser 50
San Bernardino 94, Norco 80
Shadow Hills 60, Yucaipa 52
Summit Leadership Academy 71, PAL Academy 9
Temecula Prep 77, San Jacinto Leadership Academy 43
Temescal Canyon 68, West Valley 52
Tesoro 57, Aliso Niguel 53
Valley Christian Academy 57, San Luis Obispo Classical 27
Viewpoint 74, Firebaugh 39
Villa Park 60, Brea Olinda 49
Webb 64, Santa Ana Valley 36
Western 61, El Modena 34
Westminster La Quinta 53, Santa Ana 39
YULA 61, San Diego Jewish Academy 26

INTERSECTIONAL
Brawley 66, Indio 46
Cathedral 60, Bravo 49
Los Alamitos 73, Torrey Pines 53
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 53, Huntington Park 30
St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy 65, LA Marshall 59
USC Hybrid 63, Legacy College Prep 13

GIRLS
CITY SECTION
Aspire Ollin 57, Downtown Magnets 12
Lakeview Charter 70, Valor Academy 10
Stern 34, Rise Kohyang 6
Washington 34, Crenshaw 33

SOUTHERN SECTION
Bolsa Grande 21, Capistrano Valley 26
Buena 62, Santa Barbara 20
California Military Institute 29, Santa Rosa Academy 12
Carter 65, Sultana 39
Cate 43, Laguna Blanca 29
Coastal Christian 45, Santa Maria 32
Colton 41, Arroyo Valley 26
Crescenta Valley 55, Burbank Burroughs 47
CSDR 45, Norte Vista 21
Desert Christian Academy 89, Nuview Bridge 23
El Dorado 63, Placentia Valencia 20
El Rancho 40, Diamond Ranch 33
Elsinore 34, Tahquitz 20
Foothill Tech 37, Thacher 22
Garden Grove 46, Orange 32
Grove School 30, Public Safety 14
Harvard-Westlake 48, Campbell Hall 37
Hesperia Christian 51, AAE 21
Hillcrest 53, La Sierra 8
Kaiser 52, Pomona 0
Laguna Beach 52, Dana Hills 33
Long Beach Wilson 70, Compton 32
Lucerne Valley 44, Lakeview Leadership Academy 7
Marlborough 65, Alemany 43
Mayfair 34, Chadwick 32
Monrovia 36, Mayfield 20
North Torrance 59, Palos Verdes 57
Oak Hills 58, Beaumont 32
OCCA 31, Liberty Christian 16
Oxford Academy 50, Western 34
Oxnard 46, San Marcos 30
Redlands 61, Jurupa Hills 39
Rialto 86, Apple Valley 27
Ridgecrest Burroughs 68, Barstow 38
Santa Ana Valley 64, Glenn 6
Shadow Hills 55, Palm Springs 14
Silver Valley 45, Riverside Prep 22
Temecula Prep 45, San Jacinto Leadership Academy 43
Temescal Canyon 85, West Valley 17
University Prep 47, Big Bear 31
Viewpoint 60, Agoura 45
Vistamar 33, Wildwood 14
YULA 51, Milken 50

INTERSECTIONAL
Birmingham 55, Heritage Christian 44
Desert Mirage 46, Borrego Springs 19
SEED: LA 44, Animo Leadership 7
Sun Valley Poly 65, Westridge 9
USC Hybrid 45, Legacy College Prep 4
Whittier 52, Garfield 46

Sports

Trump support drove wedge between former Mets star teammates, says sports radio star Mike Francesa

Published

15 hours ago

December 16, 2025

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Trump support drove wedge between former Mets star teammates, says sports radio star Mike Francesa

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New York sports radio icon Mike Francesa claims differing views on President Donald Trump created a divide within the Mets clubhouse.

Francesa said on his podcast Tuesday that a feud between shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who was recently traded to the Texas Rangers, was ignited by politics. Francesa did not disclose which player supported Trump and which didn’t.

“The Nimmo-Lindor thing, my understanding, was political, had to do with Trump,” Francesa said. “One side liked Trump, one side didn’t like Trump.”

New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor (12) gestures to teammates after hitting an RBI single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in New York City. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)

Francesa added, “So, Trump splitting up between Nimmo and Lindor. That’s my understanding. It started over Trump… As crazy as that sounds, crazier things have happened.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Mets for a response.

DODGERS LAND ALL-STAR CLOSER IN RECORD-BREAKING DEAL AFTER BACK-TO-BACK WORLD SERIES WINS: REPORTS

New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor (12) and Brandon Nimmo (9) celebrate after a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on June 27, 2023, in New York City. The Mets won 7-2. (Frank Franklin II/AP Photo)

Nimmo was traded to the Rangers on Nov. 23 after waiving the no-trade clause in his 8-year, $162 million contract earlier that month.

The trade of Nimmo has been just one domino in a turbulent offseason for the Mets, which has also seen the departure of two other fan-favorites, first baseman Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz.

All three players had been staples in the Mets’ last two playoff teams in 2022 and 2024, playing together as the team’s core dating back to 2020.

Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets celebrates an RBI single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning in Game One of the Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 5, 2024, in Philadelphia. (Heather Barry/Getty Images)

In return for Nimmo, the Rangers sent second baseman Marcus Semien to the Mets. Nimmo is 32 years old and is coming off a year that saw him hit a career-high in home runs with 25, while Semien is 35 and hit just 15 homers in 2025.

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Many of the MLB’s high-profile free agents have already signed this offseason. The remaining players available include Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette and Framber Valdez.

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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.