Mikal Bridges recently secured a $150 million contract extension with the New York Knicks, locking in his position through the 2029-30 <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/nba/”>NBA season. The deal features a 5.69% trade kicker, which means if Bridges is traded, he will receive an additional $6 million from the Knicks. This substantial contract extension has not only solidified Bridges’ future with the team but also triggered some humorous remarks from his teammates about his past stinginess over Chipotle orders.
Teammates Recall Bridges’ Reluctance to Pay for Chipotle
Shortly after Bridges’ new deal, Knicks players Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart shared an entertaining story on their podcast about Bridges’ habit of never buying Chipotle for the group. Hart remarked,
“… he got paid. So now I can stop paying for Chipotle and he can pay for Chipotle.”
—Josh Hart
Brunson chimed in with another pointed observation:
“That’s a fact. I don’t think Mikal paid once.”
—Jalen Brunson
Hart described the routine leading up to this running joke, explaining how he often orders Chipotle for the team during flights. He said,
“So, me being the good teammate that I am, I obviously love Chipotle, and every flight I get Chipotle. Mikal, same thing, loves Chipotle, so he usually gets Chipotle. Before that, it actually started with JB last year. JB and I would always eat at Chipotle. So, at times, he would order it. Times I would order it. Yeah. Basically, since I got to New York.”
—Josh Hart
Hart continued, noting how his Chipotle orders expanded to include more teammates over time:
“So you know, I go on the app and I order food, and before it was just like I’m ordering for me and Jalen. And then this year I was ordering for me, Jalen, Mikal, and Cam.”
—Josh Hart
Despite occasionally benefiting from discounts through his “celebrity card,” Hart pointed out that Bridges never contributed financially:
“So, I’m like, you know, it’s all love. You know what I mean? I get a good little, you know, portion of that from the celebrity card, but I, you know, I still have to pay a little bit. And Mikal never put any bread up. He never bought Chipotle for us once.”
—Josh Hart
Brunson added to the banter, recalling numerous occasions where Josh Hart covered meals but Bridges never stepped up:
“Never bought Chipotle for us once. Like, I would say Josh bought it the majority of the time, right? And there were times I would be into the punch by ‘Yo guys! I’m getting Chipotle, what do y’all want, right? But Mikal never offered.”
—Jalen Brunson
Finally, Hart humorously predicted a change during their upcoming travel:
You know what? Now, when we fly to Abu Dhabi, cause that’s going to be the first flight. Kal has to get us Chipotle.
—Josh Hart
Current Contracts and Leadership Within Knicks’ Roster
Bridges is entering the final year of his previous contract before the extension begins, earning $24.9 million for the 2025-26 NBA season. Despite being the fourth-highest-paid player on the Knicks, Bridges has yet to step up financially in the Chipotle meals scenario. Josh Hart ranks fifth in salary, while Brunson holds the highest contract on the team. Yet, it is Hart who has often taken on the role of paying for teammates’ Chipotle orders. Now celebrated for landing a lucrative contract, Bridges may soon feel motivated to contribute more as a teammate.
Knicks’ Financial Commitment to Their Starting Lineup
The Knicks have invested a staggering $741 million across their starting lineup, a figure that underscores the team’s commitment to top talent and maintaining a competitive roster. Bridges’ $150 million extension forms a significant portion of this investment, reflecting trust in his long-term value to the franchise.
This pact marks a new chapter for Bridges and the team, with expectations that both his performance and off-court leadership, including perhaps footing the Chipotle bills, will rise alongside his contract. The financial backing signals the Knicks‘ resolve to build a strong team capable of competing at the highest levels in the coming years.