Author: Monojit Mandal
Jaylen Brown’s rapid rise in the NBA has been miraculous. The young talent showed flashes of brilliance as a rookie and only continued to grow with each passing season, confirming himself as a crucial member of the Boston Celtics. As the club resumes contract extension discussions this week following Brown’s return from a trip to Europe, it looks like the Celtics could face a tough decision when considering whether to offer him the biggest contract in NBA history.
Brown’s services to the Celtics were vital as the club reached four Eastern Conference finals and one NBA final. Throughout his career, the 25-year-old has been extremely dedicated to Boston, captivating both the fans and the organization. However, it is precisely because of his loyalty that he may now be forced into an extraordinary contractual agreement.
The NBA launched the “Supermax” contract, technically known as the “Designated Veteran Player Extension”, in 2017. This clause allows teams to pay their own players more than the conventional “Max” contract if they meet specific requirements. To qualify for the Supermax, a player must have played at least eight seasons in the league and have achieved one of the following in the previous three seasons: being named to the All-NBA team, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award or being named NBA MVP.
Jaylen Brown’s selection to the All-NBA Second Team in 2023 activated his eligibility for the Supermax deal, making him one of the few players eligible for this incredibly expensive contract. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, the possible contract could be worth $304 million over five years, setting a new record for the richest contract in NBA history.
While this puts the Celtics in a unique position to give Brown a lucrative contract extension, it also has significant financial ramifications. If the Celtics sign Brown to a Supermax contract, they will suffer a 35% hit to the salary cap, limiting their financial flexibility in the following seasons.
What’s more, the Celtics could experience a similar situation the following year, when Brown’s teammate and another emerging talent, Jayson Tatum, becomes eligible for the Supermax after being elected to the All-NBA First Team in 2022 and 2023. Balancing the contracts of the two players can be a difficult task for the organization.