Josh Hart pushed back after Draymond Green questioned Jalen Brunson’s decision to accept less than a maximum contract extension with the New York Knicks.
Speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Green argued Brunson had no reason to sacrifice money because of the Knicks’ financial resources.
“It’s the New York Knicks, bro. They can afford it. You ain’t gotta take no discount,” Green said.
Green compared Brunson’s situation to his own time with the Warriors, explaining that he accepted less because Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson were already earning massive contracts.
“My situation is different because Steph (Curry) making 270 (million), Klay (Thompson) making 180. Alright, something gotta give,” Green said. “Cool, I could take less. But he the top guy! By the way, let Josh Hart or somebody else take less. They in my role, let one of them take less, but guess what? Steph Curry ain’t taking a penny less and neither did Klay Thompson. If this gonna work, somebody do. Well guess what I ain’t really expecting them to take less. I don’t know what he doing, but I’m happy for him.”
Hart didn’t appreciate being mentioned and responded on X with a brief message aimed at Green.
“We got to normalize grown men not counting other peoples pockets,” he wrote.
Brunson’s decision to sign a four-year, $156.5 million extension instead of waiting for a larger max contract created additional salary-cap flexibility for New York.
That financial room helped the Knicks acquire Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges, key additions during the franchise’s championship-winning season.
Green, however, maintained the Knicks could have remained competitive without Brunson accepting a discount, pointing to Golden State’s championship teams, where Curry and Thompson both played on maximum contracts while the Warriors captured four NBA titles.
Josh Hart fires back at Draymond Green after $100 million dig at Knicks, Jalen Brunson https://t.co/8EoA7K1oDG pic.twitter.com/Op6lrFsE5V
— New York Post (@nypost) July 29, 2026
