Aaron Judge Gifts Signed Cleats to Jalen Brunson at Yankee Stadium

Jalen Brunson, the newly appointed captain of the New York Knicks, recently received a warm endorsement from New York Yankees star Aaron Judge. The two athletes met at Yankee Stadium last month, where Judge gifted Brunson a signed pair of cleats with the encouraging message, “Keep running the city.” This meeting took place shortly before Brunson officially signed his four-year, $156.5 million contract extension with the Knicks, solidifying his role as a key player for the team. In a recent interview, Judge shared advice for Brunson, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded in his performance. “Don’t try to do too much. Keep doing your thing,” Judge advised, highlighting Brunson's contributions that led to his captaincy. Both players have experienced similar trajectories, with Judge being recognized as the de facto captain of the Yankees prior to his lucrative nine-year, $360 million contract signed in December 2022. Judge acknowledged the significance of the captaincy, calling it “one of the biggest accomplishments” of his life, a sentiment he believes resonates with Brunson as well. He stressed the need for both athletes to focus on their respective games rather than the pressures that come with their titles. At a press conference celebrating Brunson's captaincy, Judge joined other past and present New York captains in a video tribute, underscoring the pride and camaraderie shared among the city's sports leaders.