May 29, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts in the second quarter against the Miami Heat during game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Playoffs-Miami Heat at Boston Celtics
(Boston Massachusetts) — Celtics star Jaylen Brown is about to get a BAG. And by bag, I mean a Scrooge McDuck money vault.
NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowksi spoke on the lethargic extension talks between Brown and the Boston Celtics:
“It’s going to take more time. Brown and his agent have been talking with Brad Stevens, with Boston. Brown is leaving the country on Players’ Association business. They’re expected to re-engage again when he gets back. This is a deal that would be the richest contract in NBA history, it could be worth up to $304 million. In the final year of that deal, Brown will be making $70 million. When you’re negotiating contracts, it isn’t just ‘Hey, are we gonna give him the full amount, the max number?’ There are trade kickers that could be in the deal, player option years in a deal, payment schedule – there are a number of other things that go beyond the super-max Jaylen Brown is eligible for. These sides will continue to talk and they have a lot of runway this summer to get to a deal.”
You read that number right. $304 million total. $70 million in his last year alone.
For reference, Michael Jordan’s highest ever per-year salary just from his contract was a hair over $33.1 million in 1998, a record salary that stood until 2018. LeBron makes around $49.5 million from his contract currently.
Jaylen Brown is a star, some would even say superstar. But it’s a reasonable argument to make that nobody in team sports history is worth that kind of money.
