Jalen Brunson bet on himself and bet on the Knicks. A championship and a Finals MVP was his reward
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Jalen Brunson was fully aware of how much money some people spent to see the New York Knicks finally become champions again. Some tickets during the NBA Finals sold for $5,000, some for $50,000, some for probably more. Of course, Brunson parted with more money than any of those fans did. Brunson is now an NBA champion and NBA Finals MVP in large part because of what he did against the San Antonio Spurs in the finals — though, really, his biggest contribution to this title run likely came in 2024, when he left as much as $113 million on the bargaining table to allow the Knicks the financial flexibility they needed to finish building a championship roster.
kAmy2>6D w2C56? 😀 2CC6DE65 😕 w@FDE@? @? 2 >:D56>62?@C 492C86 @7 42CCJ:?8 2 H62A@? 😕 2 >@E@C G69:4=6k^Am
kAmr=6G6=2?5 r2G2=:6CD 8F2C5 y2>6D w2C56? 92D 366? 2CC6DE65 😕 w@FDE@? @? 2 >:D56>62?@C 492C86 @7 F?=2H7F= 42CCJ:?8 @7 2 H62A@? 😕 2 >@E@C G69:4=6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 w2CC:D r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E r=6C<'D ~77:46] w2C56? H2D 2CC6DE65 2E bic` 2]>] $2EFC52J 2?5 3@@<65 ;FDE 367@C6 d 2]>] w6 A@DE65 S`__ 3@?5 2?5 H2D C6=62D65 7C@> A@=:46 4FDE@5J[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 492C8:?8 5@4F>6?ED] %96 5@4F>6?ED D2J w2C56? 925 2 92?58F? 😕 A=2:? G:6H E92E H2D ?@E 😕 2 9@=DE6C] w:D 2CC2:8?>6?E 😀 D4965F=65 7@C yF?6 aa[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 4=6C6?ED]k^Am
kAmu@C5 C642==D >@C6 E92? ad_[___ u@4FD >@56=D 3642FD6 6?8:?6D 42? DE2== F?6IA64E65=Jk^Am
kAmu@C5 😀 C642==:?8 >@C6 E92? ad_[___ G69:4=6D E92E H6C6 :?4@CC64E=J C6A2:C65 F?56C 2 AC6G:@FD C642== >62?E E@ 7:I 2 AC@3=6> E92E 42FD65 E96 6?8:?6 E@ DE2== H9:=6 5C:G:?8] %96 C642== :?4=F56D add[c_c u@C5 u@4FD 2FE@>@3:=6D[ >@56= J62CD a_`aa_`g] u@C5 D2:5 E96 42?:DE6C AFC86 G2=G6 >2J >2=7F?4E:@?[ 42FD:?8 E96 6?8:?6 E@ DE2== F?6IA64E65=J H9:=6 5C:G:?8[ :?4C62D:?8 E96 C:D< @7 4C2D9 2?5 :?;FCJ] %@ 7:I E96 AC@3=6>[ 562=6CD H:== AC@G:56 2 A@H6CEC2:? D@7EH2C6 FA52E6 7C66 @7 492C86] ~H?6CD >2J 4@?E24E u@C5 4FDE@>6C D6CG:46 2E `geecbefbba]k^Am
kAm#6A@CEi |:4<6=D@? <:4<65 @FE @7 $2? s:68@ 4=F3 7@C :?2AAC@AC:2E6 4@?E24E H:E9 76>2=6 6>A=@J66k^Am
kAmv@=7 s:86DE 😀 C6A@CE:?8 !9:= |:4<6=D@? 92D 366? <:4<65 @FE @7 2 $2? s:68@ 8@=7 4=F3 7@C :?2AAC@AC:2E6 4@?E24E H:E9 2 76>2=6 6>A=@J66] v@=7 s:86DE 4:E65 >F=E:A=6 D@FC46D 2D D2J:?8 |:4<6=D@? 😀 ?@ =@?86C H6=4@>6 2E %96 u2C>D v@=7 r=F3] %92EVD H96C6 E96 D:IE:>6 >2;@C 492>A:@? 92D AC24E:465 2?5 A=2J65 7@C EH@ 564256D] p DA@<6DA6CD@? 7@C |:4<6=D@? C676CD E@ :E 2D 2 >:DF?56CDE2?5:?8 E92E 92D 366? 4=62C65 FA] |:4<6=D@? 92D 366? @FE @7 E96 AF3=:4 6J6 7@C 2== 3FE @?6 {x’ v@=7 6G6?E E9:D J62C 2D 96 562=D H:E9 2 D6C:@FD 72>:=J 962=E9 >2EE6C E92E C6>2:?D F?5:D4=@D65]k^Am
kAm’:D2 A=F8D :ED A2J>6?E ?6EH@C< :?E@ r92Ev!%[ =6EE:?8 px 286?ED D9@A 2?5 A2J 7@C FD6CDk^Am
kAm$p} u#p}rx$r~ Wp!X — ‘:D2 😀 6>3655:?8 :ED A2J>6?E ?6EH@C< :?E@ r92Ev!%[ 2==@H:?8 E96 492E3@E E@ D9@A 2?5 4@>A=6E6 EC2?D24E:@?D 7@C FD6CD] %9:D 4@==23@C2E:@? 6?23=6D r92Ev!% E@ >2<6 AFC492D6D 2E 2?J >6C492?E 2446AE:?8 ‘:D2[ F?=:<6 AC6G:@FD 2EE6>AED =:>:E65 E@ DA64:7:4 C6E2:=6CD] ~A6?px H:== AC@G:56 E96 E649?@=@8J 7@C 564:D:@?>2<:?8 2?5 AFC492D:?8[ H9:=6 ‘:D2 6?DFC6D D64FC6 EC2?D24E:@?D] %96 4@>A2?:6D 92G6?VE 5:D4=@D65 7:?2?4:2= E6C>D @C 766D] r@?46C?D :?4=F56 A@E6?E:2= @G6CDA6?5:?8 2?5 F?2FE9@C:K65 AFC492D6D[ 3FE ‘:D2 A=2?D E@ :>A=6>6?E D2768F2C5D =:<6 DA6?5:?8 =:>:ED] %9:D >@G6 4@F=5 :>A24E 3FD:?6DD6D[ H:E9 px 286?ED 2FE9@C:K65 E@ AC@4FC6 :E6>D 2?5 92?5=6 :?G@:4:?8] |2DE6C42C5 😀 2=D@ 56G6=@A:?8 pxD9@AA:?8 762EFC6D]k^Am
kAm!@=:46 3=2DE H2E6C 42??@?D 2E q6=72DE AC@E6DE6CD 2D F?C6DE 7=2C6D 282:? 27E6C DE233:?8k^Am
kAmqt{up$%[ }@CE96C? xC6=2?5 Wp!X — !@=:46 92G6 FD65 H2E6C 42??@?D @? AC@E6DE6CD 😕 }@CE96C? xC6=2?5 27E6C G:@=6?46 6CFAE65 2 D64@?5 ?:89E @G6C 2 DE233:?8 😕 q6=72DE] p $F52?6D6 >2?[ w25: p=@5:5[ 2AA62C65 😕 4@FCE (65?6D52J 492C865 H:E9 2EE6>AE65 >FC56C 27E6C 2==6865=J DE233:?8 $E6A96? ~8:=G:6 H:E9 2 A2CE=J 3=:?5] %96 :?4:56?E 92D DA2C<65 2?E:\:>>:8C2?E G:@=6?46[ H:E9 >2D<65 >6? D6EE:?8 7:C6D 2?5 2EE24<:?8 A@=:46] pFE9@C:E:6D 92G6 :?4C62D65 A@=:46 AC6D6?46 2?5 42==65 7@C 42=>] !@=:E:4:2?D 4@?56>?65 E96 G:@=6?46[ 6>A92D:K:?8 E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 F?:EJ] !C:>6 |:?:DE6C z6:C $E2C>6C 2?5 @E96CD 92G6 56?@F?465 E96 2EE24
kAmp? F?56C8C@F?5 56E64E@C 😕 r9:?2 F?G6:=D :ED 7:CDE >2;@C 7:?5:?8D 23@FE >JDE6C:@FD 89@DE A2CE:4=6Dk^Am
kAm}t( *~#z Wp!X — p >2DD:G6 F?56C8C@F?5 56E64E@C 2:>65 2E F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 >JDE6C:@FD 89@DE A2CE:4=6D 😕 @FC F?:G6CD6 92D C6=62D65 :ED 7:CDE >2;@C 7:?5:?8D] %96 y:2?8>6? &?56C8C@F?5 }6FEC:?@ ~3D6CG2E@CJ 😕 r9:?2 92D >256 D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE AC64:D6 >62DFC6>6?ED E@ 52E6 @7 9@H ?6FEC:?@D DH:E49 36EH66? E9C66 G2C:6E:6D[ @C 7=2G@CD[ 2D E96J K:A E9C@F89 DA246] $4:6?E:DED 2C6 9@A:?8 E96 56E64E@C H:== 96=A C6D@=G6 2 =@?8DE2?5:?8 >JDE6CJi 9@H 962GJ 6249 ?6FEC:?@ 7=2G@C :D] %96 :?:E:2= C6DF=ED 92G6?'E 2?DH6C65 E92E BF6DE:@? ;FDE J6E[ 3FE E96J D9@H H92E E96 56E64E@C 😀 42A23=6 @7] #6DF=ED H6C6 AF3=:D965 (65?6D52J 😕 E96 ;@FC?2= }2EFC6]k^Am
kAmw@?52 C642==D >@C6 E92? gg_[___ 42CD 5F6 E@ 2 AC@3=6> H:E9 C62C DFDA6?D:@? 4@>A@?6?EDk^Am
kAmw@?52 😀 C642==:?8 >@C6 E92? g__[___ G69:4=6D 3642FD6 C62C DFDA6?D:@? 4@>A@?6?ED >2J 72:= 2?5 42FD6 5C:G6CD E@ =@D6 4@?EC@=[ :?4C62D:?8 E96 492?46D @7 2 4C2D9 @C :?;FCJ] p>6C:42? w@?52 |@E@C r@] D2:5 E96 C642== 4@G6CD 46CE2:? a_`ea_aa w@?52 !:=@E[ a_`fa_ab #:586=:?6[ a_`ha_ab !2DDA@CE 2?5 a_`ca_a_ p4FC2 |s) G69:4=6D] %96 C642== :?4=F56D gg_[d`c G69:4=6D] w@?52 92D 925 ?@ H2CC2?EJ 4=2:>D 2?5 ?@ C6A@CED @7 2? :?;FCJ @C 562E9 C6=2E65 E@ E96 AC@3=6>] w@?52 2?5 p4FC2 562=6CD H:== :?DA64E E96 C62C DF37C2>6 2?5 :?DE2== 2 C6:?7@C46>6?E <:E :7 ?646DD2CJ[ @C C6A2:C @C C6A=246 E96 C62C DF37C2>6 4@>A@?6?ED 2E ?@ 4@DE E@ G69:4=6 @H?6CD]k^Am
kAmusp ~zD 7:CDE ?6H DF?D4C66? :?8C65:6?E 😕 >@C6 E92? ad J62CDk^Am
kAm(p$wx}v%~} Wp!X — u656C2= 962=E9 C68F=2E@CD 92G6 D:8?65 @77 @? E96 7:CDE ?6H DF?D4C66? :?8C65:6?E 7@C E96 &]$] >2C<6E 😕 >@C6 E92? ad J62CD] %96 2??@F?46>6?E %F6D52J 3J E96 u@@5 2?5 sCF8 p5>:?:DEC2E:@? H:== 8:G6 p>6C:42?D 2446DD E@ 2 D<:?AC@E64E:?8 496>:42= =@?8 FD65 😕 tFC@A6] %96 usp D2JD E96 496>:42=[ 36>@EC:K:?@=[ >66ED E96 286?4J'D DE2?52C5D 7@C AC@E64E:?8 7C@> 52?86C@FD DF? C2JD H9:=6 42FD:?8 =:EE=6 :CC:E2E:@?] xE H:== :?:E:2==J 36 D@=5 😕 E96 &]$] F?56C E96 3C2?5 ?2>6 !2CD@= $9:6=5] t77@CED E@ :?EC@5F46 ?6H DF?D4C66? AC@5F4ED 92G6 =@?8 366? 56=2J65 3J E96 usp'D 3FC62F4C2E:4 DJDE6> 7@C FA52E:?8 :ED =:DE @7 D276 5CF8 :?8C65:6?EDk^Am
kAmr2C?6J D2JD E96 ?6H r2?25:2?3F:=E 3C:586 24C@DD s6EC@:E #:G6C E92E %CF>A E9C62E6?65 H:== @A6?k^Am
kAm%~#~}%~ Wp!X — r2?25:2? !C:>6 |:?:DE6C |2C< r2C?6J D2JD 2 ?6H r2?25:2?3F:=E 3C:586 24C@DD E96 s6EC@:E #:G6C E92E &]$] !C6D:56?E s@?2=5 %CF>A E9C62E6?65 E@ 3=@4< H:== @A6? D@@?] p C:33@?4FEE:?8 46C6>@?J 7@C E96 v@C5:6 w@H6 x?E6C?2E:@?2= qC:586 😀 D6E E@ E2<6 A=246 uC:52J H9:=6 E96 3C:586 :ED6=7 😀 6IA64E65 E@ @A6? E@ EC277:4 =2E6C E9:D >@?E9] %CF>A 56>2?565 😕 u63CF2CJ E92E r2?252 EFC? @G6C 2E =62DE 92=7 E96 @H?6CD9:A @7 E96 3C:586 E@ E96 &]$] 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 28C66 E@ @E96C F?DA64:7:65 56>2?5D 😕 9:D =2E6DE D2=G@ @G6C 4C@DD3@C56C EC256 :DDF6D] %96 3C:586 4@??64ED ~?E2C:@ 2?5 |:49:82? 2?5 H@F=5 36 2 G:E2= 64@?@>:4 2CE6CJ 36EH66? E96 EH@ 4@F?EC:6D] xE 925 366? 6IA64E65 E@ @A6? 😕 62C=J a_ae] r2C?6J >256 9:D 4@>>6?ED @? %F6D52J]k^Am
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.