As many know there is extra incentives to win the NBA Cup, as each player and coach on the winning team gets $500,000. That is to say, some of the richer star players may be motivated to win, so their younger teammates can earn some extra cash. However, not everyone is thinking about others, such as Knicks star Josh Hart.
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"I might get a new watch," an Audemars Piguet watch Hart specified to reporters. "I don't really care about the young guys getting money. I just care about me, what I'm going to spend... That's found money so I'll do something foolish with it."
Josh Hart was asked if there was anything extra about tonight's NBA Cup game:
"No. I might get a new watch though" 😂 pic.twitter.com/QLepZzY925
— Knicks Videos (@sny_knicks) December 4, 2024
Then co-star Jalen Brunson in the background was heard saying, "f***ing a**hole."
When asked the same question beforehand, Brunson noted how much the money would mean to the younger players, who are at the bottom of the totem pole.
"It would mean a lot [to win]. It would mean a lot for us to get [to Las Vegas for the final] and do all that," Brunson said. "You have guys on the team who may be on one-year contracts or two-way deals or whatever. And you get to go out there and try to win for them and it means a lot."
Brunson not only talks the talk, as he also puts his money where his mouth is. For those who don't know, the 28-year-old took the biggest pay cut in NBA history this past offseason.
That is, back in July Brunson signed a four-year contract extension worth about $156 million. Notably, this was about $113 million less than the max contract offer he could have signed for, if he waited until next year's offseason.
In view of Hart's contract, he is currently on a 4-year/$81 million deal, and is hoping he can earn some more money if the Knicks win the In-Season Tournament.
To note, there's also a $206,000 prize for second-place team players and $103,000 winnings for semifinalists and $51,500 for those who end as quarterfinalists.
The Knicks are currently 4-0 and will face the Atlanta Hawks on December 11 at 7:00 pm ET, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals.
Hart has done his part, as in the last 121-106 win vs. the Orlando Magic he notched yet another triple-double, scoring 11 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists.
On the season, Hart leads all guards in points (13.7) and field goal percentage (59.3% FG).
All in all, the money earned will determine how nice of a watch Hart gets to wear on his wrist.
