Jalen Brunson when asked if the team has given any thought to spreading the wealth from the NBA Cup to everyone else in the organization: “Yes we have. Thanks for ruining the surprise.”
Interesting question. You don’t want to say no to it because that just attracts bad publicity.
“Damn, I guess now we have to. Thanks for that.”
And now every team for every nba cup forever has to do it or else theyll look shitty in comparison
Reminds me of the Fresh Prince episode where Will won the 50⁄50 at the country club and was expected to donate it back to the club.
“How come they don’t want me to have all the money, man?”
“Sorry interns, the surprise was ruined so now I’m going to have to find a new gift to surprise you with”
The money should come from the Team not the players. It’s weird to have to stick up for millionaire players, but they shouldn’t be backed into this position. Especially when they start the question by pointing out that the money is actually meaningful to the deep bench players.
Especially since there’s no salary cap on staff. Put the pressure on the billionaire owners, not the millionaire players.
Tbf just the starting lineup giving up their bonus would be more than enough for a juicy Christmas bonus for the employees
To be even fairer, the billionaire owners would miss the money even less. Why should an employee be pressured in to giving a bonus to another employee and not the owner? Do the players also have to decide which other people they give a bonus and which they don’t? It’s just a shitty corner to back your most valuable assets into.
Well the owners always have the excuse of “we’re already giving them a bonus”. If it’s something on top of it I think it would have to be from the players.
On top of what? Are the other employees also getting bonuses for the team winning the NBA cup? Does your boss make you pay for the other employees’ bonuses?
The non-player NBA employees are paid $90k on average, which puts them in the top 0.1% globally and even the lowest paid are in the top 2% globally. If rich people are gonna be charitable why not give it to actually needy people instead of gainfully employed people in a rich country?
This whole thread is dumb. Give ME all their money, that solves a lot of my problems. Thank you. Carry on.
The starting lineup ARE employees.
For what its worth, this was his plan last year if he won it anyway.
Yeah, kind of a dick move to even ask that, because there’s only one correct answer which you’ve forced them to give.
I was thinking “asshole-ish question” fit better. Like, it’s a great thing if the players do that, but putting that sort of public pressure on them is such a dick move.
The media brings up the money too much
I mean that’s the only incentive for the cup
Bro we got to hang a banner!
To be fair, at some point, someones gonna win the league cup double and “Player 65 being the only player to ever win MVP, FMVP AND NBACupMVP in the same year” will 100% be a GOAT argument notch
This is why the cup can succeed IMO. OKC missing the NBA cup this year will put a damper on their teams greatness claim if they set a regular season win total that is in the 70’s and they win the Larry. Because some team down the line will win 70+ and also win the double.
lol good one
It will not. Unless your team make a run, nobody cares about the cup outside of the most obsessed fans who will just watch any type of basketball. And even then for most people if you have something going on it’s more of a “I’ll check the score later” type of thing
That’s what he’s saying though isn’t it? Nobody cares NOW. But once the cup has been around for 20 years it will start to have some prestige to it.
Yeah, the corollary, to a degree, is the grand slam total in tennis. When Pete Sampras was about to break Roy Emerson’s major record of 12, in Wimbledon 2000, they phoned Emerson to ask if he wanted to be there/present the title in case Sampras won it, and Emerson had NO IDEA he held the “record”! And Sampras himself, I believe, didn’t realise he was chasing 13 slams. But by the time Federer was chasing 14, it was a HUGE part of the story, and the three-way race between Federer/Djokokovic/Nadal acted as a proxy for the GOAT race.
I think McEnroe said if he knew they were keeping score of slam totals, he’d have played Australia more!
In a similar vein, I’m not sure it’ll matter for teams, outside of historical dominance - 70 wins, plus the NBA Cup etc - but I think for players, its a different type of box tick. MVP - consistent perfromance over a season FMVP (and to a degree conference MVP) - elevation of performance against, presumably, the best available opposition. NBA Cup MVP - An ability to rise to the occasion in a win or go home situation.
I can’t see how it doesn’t at some point become a factor in player rankings. Certainly I can see the Jokic/Giannis debate coming down to “Yeah but in a have to have it game, you take Giannis. As proof, I present the fact that he went 26/19/10 in the NBA Cup against the historic OKC Thunder”.
It might, but in the three that it has it’s only gotten a little less relevant
It’s still a bunch of regular season games and then a championship where stats disappear into the ether and the biggest marketed incentive is for the multimillionaires on the court to make more money
I’ll never comprehend why fans are so against this tournament when it has proven successful in soccer for decades. The entire league and its rules have all been made up. There’s no questioning that the games are more than just a regular season game when you get to the knockout rounds. There’s also no questioning that it isn’t as important as winning the Larry. But it will absolutely add a layer to how we discuss teams greatness and legacy as it gets more ingrained.
Just get it out of that shithole Vegas and back in front of home fans. Maybe put the Final in MSG if you want neutral turf.
It’s not at all similar to the tournaments that the league has based it off of in soccer. The appeal of the tournaments in soccer is the matchups against lower leagues and the potential for different matchups and upsets
⁰Y fairly
18 time world champions!
First NBA cup o noodles slurpin champs!
Winning something is an incentive. Obviously it’s not a title but very few players in the final have ever won anything in the nba.
Without the money, it’s just a title. And yes, the NBA championship is also a title but it is THE title. No one mentions NBA Cup champions unless it’s during the NBA Cup
That’s completely untrue, we use it to console ourselves over our shitty playoffs since 2022 regularly.
Give it a few years and people will take it a lot more seriously, the OKC-Spurs game definitely felt a more meaningful vibe
Every new tradition has to start somewhere. Nobody cared about the NBA Championship during its first decade, either. Give it 15-20 years when there are players in the league who have never known an NBA without the NBA Cup.
You’re both right in this instance
Should give a 0.5 game boost to the team’s standings
UAE money, they are probably contractually obligated to if they want to cover the event.
esports teams were literally required to say “life changing money” in their tweets about Saudi run events. I guess they realized that was too on the nose.
Yeah I’m really kind of sick of them talking about how these mega millionaires are extra motivated for money that for them amounts to peanuts but for every fan would be life-changing money. Hell even the lower-end bench guys for whom the stars are ostensibly trying to win the money are almost all making salaries in the millions. They might not have the chance to build generational wealth like most guys do but they just have to not be complete idiots to be set for life.
Its for the career g league guys (i.e. two ways) that its important.
The salary for g leaguers isnt a lot so it matters.
Every decision the league makes is based on maximizing profit. I think it’s silly to expect the media to just ignore that.
brb, applying to be an Knicks intern right now.
Wait so why doesnt this ‘ Privileged ’ reporter share his wealth with other new reporters and interns in his company and pay for food and Huts in 3rd world country ?
You ruined the surprise.
Well that was a loaded question.
Hey Jalen, you’re extremely wealthy. Your hard work and great play could also net you another bonus, wouldn’t it be awful if you selfishly took all the money for yourself like an asshole rather than spreading the wealth.
Let’s ignore the fact that the Knicks are a multi billion dollar entity who could provide the bonuses themselves rather than making the onus on the players
Seriously why the fuck do people never target the billionaire assholes who are hording all the wealth? They could give everyone \(100k and not even make a dent in their bank account. Taylor Swift gave away \)129M in bonuses and it didn’t even make a difference in her life style, I’m sure Dolan would be just fine but apparently it’s on the players to provide for their own teammates and staff???
Right, lmao. I get they’re super wealthy but come on. Easy for me to say, but if I had that amount of money I would be throwing out bonuses for the dumbest things. “Your kid drew a gingerbread man red? That’s my favorite color, here’s 20k”.
What dickheaded question.
Yea that sounded like James Edwards. I really preferred when Fred Katz was covering the team from The Athletic, too bad he got promoted.
James Edwards III replacing Fred Katz has to be biggest rip off this century
Brunson out here trying to give everyone an awesome Christmas bonus and all Keldon Johnson wants to do is buy a llama.
Spurs are truly despicable! /s
Dont care. Llama!
Let them eat cake!
Let them eat alfalfa cake!
Hey hey hey, Keldon also said he would buy David Jones Garcia a car. (2-way, catching ubers everywhere… but mind you, apparently doesn’t even have a license - so maybe thats why Keldon moved on to a Llama as a more responsible purchase.
Ethical llama purchaser
Can DJG commute via llama?
I swear, every member of that team is so damn funny.
I’m glad KATs goofy ass made some new friends 😭
if you think KAT is happy now, just wait until he’s loving Milwaukee
Can’t wait till Thanasis gets his chance to show off his comedic talents
Him and Hart’s podcast is the best active player podcast/show. Sorry draymond
Oh fr? I love the boys but the pod is too dry for me
It’s a little dry but I enjoy the guest they bring in sometimes so I still watch it
Who the hell would answer no to that especially in Xmas season?
Exactly.
Many billionaires
What? Why would this come out of the players pockets and not the team?
Because the players earning 8 figures a year wanted to do something nice with their found money from winning the NBA Cup?
Edit: Seems like the players doing a kindness for the people behind the scenes for whom that gift would make a world of difference, struck a nerve with some of you
Because there’s a guy with 10 figures who needs the money even less? Lol billionaires love people like you
Wtf are you talking re: billionaires? Where did I say wages shouldn’t be higher or that owners/ceos don’t make enough money? I didn’t. But that doesn’t mean I also think people with means should never be charitable or generous
I have such little regard for people who see “players donate tournament prize money” and make a stink about it , distracting from the nice holiday gesture.
It’s one thing for the players to make that decision. It’s another for this reporter to put them on the spot and make them look like jerks if they say no, I’m keeping my hard earned money.
So ‘Someyhung Nice’ is just someone else’s free Money ❓
Capitalism is ruining USA i swear where everyone wants everyone else’s money for free smh
quite literally the polar opposite of capitalism
I don’t want anyone’s money for free? I’m not an employee of the Knicks ?
But ….do you think charity shouldn’t exist? That’s a shame
Optional sure….Nor forced and looked down upon if you don’t want to…
Like the Old saying says…. “ Charity Starts at home ‘…
Also you clearly point out he’s multi millionaire as if it’s his obligation to then donate a bit..
Jfc it is not at all his obligation
I’m lauding his and the team’s choice for being generous to the lower level Knicks employees around the holiday, and I’m not choosing the moment to make a political statement about billionaires hoarding wealth
Who is the reporter?
He also jinxed them.
Hardly a jinx given how much they made just for getting to this point. Just for making the Cup finals, 14 Knicks and 15 Spurs are getting \(212k, and the six Knicks and Spurs players on two-way contracts are getting half that, \)106k. Winning the Cup championship nets an additional \(309k or \)159k.
For the Knicks’ salary this year, it’s pretty top heavy. It probably makes sense for the six players making more than $10 million to contribute their cup bonuses and let everyone else keep it. I mean winning the cup means those two-way players get a bonus of six times their current salary – that’s huge.
I dig all of this man’s interviews.
Damn, he should’ve thought that one through. He was never going to say no…
I have a second job working at a steakhouse on the weekends. You know, the kind of place that gives you a nice, free dessert when you are celebrating something special like a birthday.
This reminds me of those fucks who always ask “isn’t there a free dessert” when I bring by a dessert menu at the end of the meal. I always try to be as nice as possible, without being condescending, and say “well it was supposed to be a surprise.”
“Comrade Brunson, after seizing the means of production do you plan on sharing the profits of labor with everyone in the league?“
Why is it the players responsibility that should be your ownership
Terrible question, but a great answer.
Funny and an ethical player
I watch a lot of golf, and it’s really funny to see the NBA fall into the same trap. “If we pay these millionaires even more money, everyone will care more!”
Legit Dirk hat
Wemby would never
Is this not normally an expectation? I think usually whichever teams get into the playoffs in the MLB, they will split shares of the $$$ with the staff.
Random side question, but does anyone know where you can buy that knit hat?
What an asshole question
Why are reporters so obsessed with the money aspect of the cup?
One day a player should say “No” and leave it at that
I’m ngl if I’m the reporter I’m doing the same shit, these nba players make WAY too much money, then im finna hit up one the staff to slide something under the table for me for setting up the lob
You’ll never make it too far watching other people’s pockets like you are now. If you think someone makes too much money, that envy says more about you than them..
Yeah good point I’ll think about that on my way home while I count all my dollar bills
I’m going to guess 15 years old.
In hindsight, standing on business did not work in my favor it seems. I was joking
[removed]
what
Its a young people thing.. you wouldn’t understand.. they dont either.
i understand what 6 7 is, i dont understand the le so random point of that dude’s comment. also you saying this shit with all the periods is dating you, oldhead. shitting on kids and people younger than you isn’t as super duper badass as you think it is.
“In understand what 6 7 is”
“What is 6 7?”
Crickets…
What is 6 7?
Smh giving Mavs fans a bad look bruh…
Can’t handle facts little man?
I can handle the fact you’re a corny dweeb, just trying to ask if you could only bring yourself down and leave Mavs fans out of it thank you very much 🙏
Lol leave mavs fans out of it? How did I bring them into it? You are such an insecure little boy lmao
Guilty by association unfortunately. But I digress, go be yourself. Nothing wrong being a short bus kid. Have fun
Oh No!!! Not the little bus joke!! I am dead, you killed me with that one..
Bad bot
lmao
That’d be hilarious lol