When you ask casual NBA fans out there who has the biggest contract in the NBA, you’ll almost certainly here the same few names. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant. The usual.
You’re probably not going to run into too many people who are going to say Jaylen Brown. That means you probably aren’t going to run into too many people who are actually right.
That’s right, folks. Jaylen Brown now has the richest contract in NBA history.
The Celtics’ All-Star guard signed a 5-year, $305 million supermax extension with the Boston Celtics on Tuesday, according to The Athletics’ Shams Charania.
BREAKING: Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax contract extension with the franchise, per sources. This is the richest deal in NBA history, negotiated by agent Jason Glushon.
Fully guaranteed, with a trade kicker. No player option. pic.twitter.com/MQ6NKILY8Q
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 25, 2023
It’s the first $300 million deal in NBA history and the biggest contract ever. The deal is fully guaranteed and it’ll come with a trade kicker, meaning that number can actually increase if he’s dealt.
RELATED: 13 players who signed humungous veteran supermax extensions, including Jaylen Brown.
In the final year of the deal, Brown will be paid nearly $70 million, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Here is the breakdown on the Jaylen Brown super max extension in Boston:
2024-2025 $52,368,085
2025-2026 $56,557,532
2026-2027 $60,746,979
2027-2028 $64,936,425
2028-2029 $69,125,872
Total $303,734,893
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) July 25, 2023
It’s a sweet deal for Brown and, to be quite honest, a massive one for the Celtics. The sticker shock was real for fans out there. So many people were shocked by the deal Brown got here.
Yes, this deal is expensive. But Brown is worth it for the Celtics. And it’s not going to be as bad as you think as time keeps on ticking.
Let’s break it down.
Nordstrom Anniversary sale
There's no way. This is a terrible deal. Do you see how much money that is?
OK, look. I get it, truly. The sticker shock is definitely there with this one. That’s $300 million going to one player. We’re not used to seeing this.
If you feel this way, you’re not alone. Lots of folks online feel the same way.
Did I just read the richest deal in NBA history just went to the second-best player on his own team? What a time to be alive!
— Steve Wiltfong (@SWiltfong247) July 25, 2023
Idk if TWO Jaylen Brown's are even worth $304 million through 5 years.
— The Hood Therapist (@OhhMar24) July 25, 2023
Jaylen Brown signed the biggest deal in NBA history and can’t use his left hand, I- pic.twitter.com/EuImcfcQlk
— Oluwajomiloju (@JomiAdeniran) July 25, 2023
There’s plenty more where that came from. And it’s totally understandable. The Celtics are paying a guy with some pretty noteworthy weaknesses in his game a $304 million contract. That’s a lot of money.
But it’s totally worth it for Boston. Besides, you won’t feel the same way about it in just a couple of years.
Is this deal actually worth it?
For a team in the Celtics’ position, it absolutely is. There really wasn’t much else Boston could do in this scenario besides pay Brown.
Let’s say the Celtics decide to put Brown on the trading block instead of paying him. Who are they trading him for that will also still keep them in contention? There’s not really an option out there. Damian Lillard is unrealistic. James Harden is a worse player. They could trade Brown for multiple players, but none would be as good as him.
What it really boils down to is this: The Celtics’ two best players in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been in the Eastern Conference Finals together in three of the last four seasons. They’re 25 and 26 years old, respectively. The two make the Celtics an NBA Finals contender right now.
You pay them and keep it going. They’re worth it.
This deal also isn't as expensive as you think
It’s always the big numbers that have people in shock when it comes to the biggest contracts in the NBA. But, remember, the NBA’s worst contracts aren’t really as bad as you think they are.
Let’s add some additional context to this $304 million number for Brown here. This is the richest contract in NBA history in 2023. Back in 2016, Mike Conley Jr. signed a 5-year, $153 million deal that was considered the richest contract ever at that time. That’s been doubled.
The next year, Russell Westbrook signed a $205 million deal in 2017 that — you guessed it — was also the largest contract in NBA history at the time. Here we are, $100 million later, and it’s Jaylen Brown instead of Russ.
You see what I’m getting at here. The numbers keep rising. In two years, after the NBA signs its new television deal in 2025, we’ll be here again.
The Brown number is certainly worth of a reaction here. But what is even more jaw-dropping than that is the fact that the NBA’s numbers have gotten this big. Just a decade ago the salary cap was basically Brown’s entire salary in the final year of this upcoming deal.
The NBA salary cap in 2014-2015 was 63 million dollars.
Jaylen Brown is making 69 million in 2028-2029.
— Subscribe to the You Know Ball Patreon (@TrillBroDude) July 25, 2023
That number is big, but it’s not as bad as you think. If this one shocks you, just wait another couple of years. You’ll be right here all over again.
