Jalen Brunson named first Knicks team captain since 2018-19

Why isn’t the U.S. sending its best cuts from the 5×5 national team — say, Paul George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Jalen Brunson, and Jaylen Brown to 3×3? Well, it’s because those guys aren’t playing in the 3×3 events required to make the Olympic team. The IOC mandates players participate in 3×3 events to be eligible for the national team because they want athletes to be invested in the sport and take it seriously. The United States just doesn’t care enough to actually try to compete. -via SB Nation / August 1, 2024

The Knicks star guard, who was eligible to sign a five-year, $269.1 million deal in 2025, recently signed a four-year, $156.5 million contract extension, which reminds the Warriors forward of his recent four-year, $100 million extension. “He did the Draymond Green,” Green said on the “Club 520 Podcast.” “I signed that [four-year contract] for [$100 million]. “If I waited, I could’ve gotten four for [$180 million], but I needed to lock my money in. I’d rather lock that [$100 million] in to know that I have that [$100 million] – chasing that extra [$60 million] or [$80 million] and then I don’t get it. I just wasn’t willing to take that risk.” -via NBC Sports Bay Area / July 29, 2024

But even then, Green couldn’t wrap his head around how an NBA All-Star and the face of an organization left a lofty figure on the table. “It’s the New York Knicks, they can afford it,” Green added. “You ain’t gotta take no discount. My situation is different because Steph is making [$270 million] and Klay is [$180 million]. “Alright, something had to give. Cool, I will take less, but he’s the top guy. Let Josh Hart or somebody else take less. Like, they’re in my role. Let somebody else take less. Guess what? “Steph Curry didn’t take a penny less, and neither did Klay Thompson take a penny less. If it’s going to work, somebody will do [it]. I wasn’t expecting them to take less. I don’t know what he’s doing.” -via NBC Sports Bay Area / July 29, 2024