Brunson has touching plans for $500k prize as Knicks push to end 50-year drought

Half a million dollars can buy many things, but Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart have two very different ideas on what do with the money.

The NBA Cup champions will receive $500,000 for each of their players and for members on smaller contracts such money can be transformational.

The New York Knicks are one of six teams undefeated in the NBA Cup and with the reigning champions, Los Angeles Lakers, out there will be a new champion crowned this season.

The Knicks play the Orlando Magic next to decide who proceeds into the next stage of the tournament with both teams tied in their own bracket currently.

The tournament will be wrapped up in the next three weeks with the quarter finals next week and the final taking place on December 18.

With the very public knowledge that winners would each get $500,000 cheque, Brunson humbly told reporters that the money benefits others more than him and that motivates the 28-year-old.

“You have guys on the team who may be on one-year contracts or two ways or whatever. And you get to go out there and try to win for them (so they get the $500,000 prize) and it means a lot,” Knicks captain Jalen Brunson told reporters after a game.

“So I’m not going in thinking, ‘How is this going to benefit me?’ I’m thinking, ‘How is this going to benefit the team?’”

However, teammate Hart intervened, replying: “No, I wanna win cause I want a d*** watch. The new AP.”

The AP he is referring to is luxury brand Audemars Piguet where prices can go well into the six figure range.

Brunson’s sentiment is something that other wealthy NBA stars have shared when talking about the $500k payday for the champions.

LeBron James reportedly told two-way LA and South Bay Lakers players Alex Fudge that the prize money was for players like him, echoing Brunson’s comments that the reward is important for the players on smaller contracts.

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“He told me before the game and said, ‘This is for you, Fudge. This is for you, for D’Moi [Hodge]. This is for everybody.’ I trusted him and now we’re here,” Fudge told reporter Marc Spears last year when the Lakers won the NBA cup.

With around nine of the current New York Knicks roster on minimum, two-way or sub $2million contracts, Brunson will hope to bring a payday that means more to a lot of his teammates.

“Just knowing that he is thinking about us is a blessing. Not too many people are like that. That just says who LeBron is.”

The Knicks would be confident that they can win the tournament, sitting fourth in the Eastern Conference and having strong performances this season.

The introduction of Karl Anthony Towns also gives them a strong chance with the center averaging 25 points and 13 rebounds leading the league in the latter of that statistic.

A NBA cup title could be what the Knicks need under Tom Thibodeau to demonstrate the progress being made and the $500k bonus would not be bad also.