BOSTON – The Boston Celtics have answered their most pressing question of the offseason. Jaylen Brown will be part of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
The Celtics wing has agreed to a five-year Supermax contract extension that will see him up to $304 million, his agent said Tuesday.
It is the richest contract in NBA history, surpassing that $264 million deal Signed by Nuggets center Nikola Jokic last summer.
The deal was first reported by ESPN and confirmed to The Associated Press by Brown’s agent Jason Glushon.
This keeps Brown with the team that drafted him third overall in 2016 and watched his progression to a two-time All-Star.
Last season, he averaged career-highs of 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists. However, those numbers declined in the playoffs when the Celtics lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. In Game 7, Brown had 19 points on 8 of 23 shots and only made one of nine 3-point attempts.
Still, the aggregation of his time in Boston has made him a key part of the franchise’s current core, whose departure management was unwilling to risk if his current four-year deal expires after next season.
Being named to the All-NBA junior team – Brown’s first such honor of his career – made him eligible for supermax overtime.
From the moment last season came to a close, Celtics basketball president Brad Stevens insisted he wanted to see Brown sign a long-term contract.
“He’s a big part of us. We believe in him and I’m thankful for him,” Stevens said last month. “I’m really thankful that these guys are going back to work when they succeed. And if they get hit, then it’s up to them and they go back to work. And that’s how I know they care. And that’s hard to find.”
Those views were echoed by All-Star Jayson Tatum, who has teamed up with Brown to lead the Celtics’ double win in their runs to the 2021-22 NBA Finals and last season’s Conference Finals.
Following the East Finals loss in Boston in May, Tatum said it was “extremely important” to keep Brown long-term.
“He’s one of the best players in this league,” said Tatum. “He plays both sides of the ball and is still relatively young.” And he has achieved a lot in his career so far. So I think it is extremely important.”
Brown’s new pact is likely to result in some financial maneuvering in the future as the league’s new collective bargaining agreement imposes further restrictions on team rosters and additional luxury tax penalties.
Tatum is still playing under his rookie extension that started last season and will be eligible for his potential Supermax extension next summer.
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