Jalen Brunson did a huge favor for the New York Knicks when he accepted a pay cut in order to give the team more financial flexibility in the seasons ahead.

Then Mikal Bridges did the exact same thing, following in Brunson’s footsteps and helping his squad out.

New head coach Mike Brown talked about the sacrifices made by these two, and he thinks it speaks to their character and devotion to the team.

“You sacrifice who you are & what you’re about for the betterment of the team. And there’s no better way to show that publicly––to show your teammates & everyone else––than to do what they did,” Brown said.

“You sacrifice who you are & what you’re about for the betterment of the team. And there’s no better way to show that publicly––to show your teammates & everyone else––than to do what they did”

–– Mike Brown on Jalen Brunson & Mikal Bridges leaving money on table

More https://t.co/FNU9HsogdC pic.twitter.com/ngPvXtrdp9

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) September 28, 2025

With these moves, Brunson and Bridges proved that they are all about the Knicks and the success they might find.

They could have both fetched much higher deals that would have helped their pocketbooks right away, but they instead deferred that for the overall betterment of the team.

If it weren’t for these moves, the Knicks would be strapped for cash and unable to improve the roster.

Every time they acquire a new player and sign another contract, they will have Brunson and Bridges to thank.

The Knicks are hoping for very big things in the new year.

They want to go all the way to the NBA Finals, and some fans will view anything less than that as a huge disappointment.

Even if that doesn’t happen this year, these cost-saving moves from Brunson and Bridges mean the future in New York may be brighter.

They are looking out for their team, both on and off the court.

The post Mike Brown Reveals Thoughts About 2 Knicks Stars Taking Pay Cut appeared first on The Cold Wire.