Jaylen Brown's good intentions for record-breaking NBA deal
"Inexplicable", "overpaid" or "the beginning of the end", have been some of the reactions that fans of the NBA and the Boston Celtics have had after learning about what is now the biggest contract in NBA history.
Journalist Shams Charania broke the news announcing Jaylen Brown will sign a supermax contract with the Boston Celtics that will bring him... 304 million dollars in five seasons!
The agreement, according to ESPN and The Athletic, was closed between the Celtics, the player and his agent, Jason Glushon who, directly, goes down in NBA history.
Jaylen Brown, born in October 1996, opted for a 'Supermax Contract' but nobody expected him to exceed the 215 million dollars in four years that Stephen Curry – one of the top 10 best players in history – commands.
Thus, after the 2023/2024 season, in which Jaylen Brown will pocket 30.7 million dollars, the five-year extension of the shooting guard's new contract will begin to come into play
A growing contract with dizzying figures: 2024/25: 53.4 million; 2025/26: 56.6 million; 2026/27: 60.7 million; 2027/28: 64.9 million; 2028/29: $69.1 million.
While the numbers are impressive, so too is Brown's intention to use his newfound wealth to make a positive impact on his community. Brown was asked about his newfound "generational wealth," and what his plans were. Brown said he wanted to bring 'Black Wall Street' to Boston and address the wealth disparity in the city through economic stimulus in key underfunded and under-resourced areas.
Brown explained, as reported by Express US: “I want to launch a project to bring Black Wall Street here to Boston. I want to attack the wealth disparity here. I think there is analytics that supports that stimulating the wealth gap could actually be something that could be betterment for the entire economy."
"Through my platform, through influential partners, through selected leaders, government officials – a lot who are in this room – that we can come together and create new jobs, new resources, new businesses, new ideas that could highlight minorities but also stimulate the economy and the wealth gap at the same time,"
On top of the economic power, it also gives him a strong say in the future of the Celtics' organization as it includes a has a clause that gives Brown the chance to veto any transfer with which he does not agree.
Obviously, Jaylen Brown will become the highest-paid player on the team, followed by Kristaps Porzingis who this year will take $36 million for his remaining contract year, with Jayson Tatum in third place, with $32.6 million.
Tatum, who still has three years left on his contract and who, if nothing changes, should be the next to receive a similar Supermax Contract. This is going to challenge the club's salary limit but Brad Stevens, the club's president of operations, is likely working on possible solutions now.
This agreement comes after a few difficult months, in which there was even speculation about the transfer of Brown after the defeat of the Boston Celtics in the conference finals, against the Miami Heat.
Brown, who had just had his best season (26.6 points and 6.9 rebounds), did not offer his best level and there was speculation about a change of direction for the Celtics. It is clear that this will not be the case.
Curiously, fate has wanted that the same day that Jaylen Brown's Supermax contract was made public, a prestigious media such as 'The Ringer' presented its updated list of the best players in the current NBA.
A list in which Jaylen Brown, the highest paid player in history, does not appear in the top 20 and has to settle for 22nd position.
Ahead of Jaylen Brown, classics like Jokic (1st), Curry (2nd), Giannis (3rd), his teammate Tatum (6th), but also people like Sabonis (20th) or Adebayo (21st).
If Jaylen Brown's new contract makes something clear, it is that the next Supermax that are signed will take those 304 million dollars as a reference. Who will be next?