As the NBA Cup heats up, players across the league are expressing their motivations for wanting to take home the trophy. Two of the New York Knicks’ key players, Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart, recently shared their unique reasons for wanting to win.
Jalen Brunson has been vocal about his desire to win the NBA Cup, not just for the glory, but to support his teammates, especially those on minimum salaries and two-way deals. The NBA Cup’s $500,000 payday for each player is a significant incentive, and Brunson sees it as an opportunity to uplift his fellow teammates.
“I want to win the NBA Cup to help my teammates on minimum salaries and two-way deals get that $500K payday,” Brunson said.
On the other hand, Josh Hart’s motivation for winning the NBA Cup is more personal and lighthearted. When asked about Brunson’s team-focused approach, Hart playfully responded,
“No. I wanna win cause I want a damn watch. The new AP.”
Jalen Brunson said he wanted to win the NBA Cup in part to help teammates on min. salaries and 2way deals to get a $500k payday.
Asked Josh Hart after practice today about winning the Cup so those teammates could get paid: “No. I wanna win cause I want a damn watch. The new AP.”
— Kristian Winfield (@Krisplashed) December 2, 2024
Despite their differing motivations, both Brunson and Hart share a common goal: to win the NBA Cup. The chance certainly is there, as the Knicks are off to a promising start in the 2024 NBA Cup, currently holding a 3-0 record in East Group A.