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A viral video from a World Cup after-party hosted by Justin Bieber in New York City has underscored the stark difference in status between two NBA players. Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks and Michael Porter Jr. of the Brooklyn Nets arrived at the same venue simultaneously, but their treatments could not have been more different.
Brunson, accompanied by his wife Ali, walked directly into the event without delay or credential verification. Porter Jr., who attended with former Denver Nuggets teammate Peyton Watson, was required to check the guest list at the door before entering the venue.
The contrast is particularly striking given that Porter Jr. earns $40.8 million annually compared to Brunson’s $37.7 million per season. However, Brunson has achieved what amounts to a rare “King of New York” status that transcends individual salary figures and player performance metrics.
The Knicks’ cultural prominence in New York City far exceeds that of the Nets, who relocated from New Jersey to Brooklyn in 2012. The Knicks play at Madison Square Garden, widely regarded as basketball’s most prestigious venue, and Brunson led the franchise to its first championship in 53 years.
The Nets, meanwhile, have spent the past three seasons in rebuilding mode. Porter Jr. posted career highs of 24.2 points per game and 3 assists during the 2025-26 campaign, but the team finished 20-62 and third-to-last in the Eastern Conference standings.
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