IN EARLY AUGUST, after Jalen Brunson was named the New York Knicks' first captain in five years, the franchise unveiled a video compilation congratulating its star floor general.
The first message in the video, which was filled with praise from the city's sports captains past and present, was from New York Yankees legend and five-time World Series champion Derek Jeter. «Man, I have enjoyed watching you develop and get better year after year,» Jeter said in his message. «And I look forward to that continuing as you lead the Knicks back to where they belong.» Jeter's words undoubtedly carried weight with Brunson, who had studied the Hall of Famer and a handful of other iconic athletes' leadership methods in an effort to help build a consistent winner inside Madison Square Garden, which will host the Indiana Pacers Friday night in the Knicks' home opener (7:30 p.m.
ET, ESPN). The 28-year-old Brunson raised eyebrows across the league in July, when he signed a team-friendly four-year, $156.5 million extension when he could have waited until next summer to secure a far more lucrative five-year deal.
The choice — which gave the Knicks' front office coveted salary cap flexibility under the dreaded second apron — was in line with athletes such as Jeter, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, superstars who all took less money to bolster the rosters around them.