According to NBA front office insider Bobby Marks of ESPN, Boston Celtics standout Jayson Tatum is eligible to sign a five-year, $315 million contract deal this summer.
The extension is the largest in NBA history.
Tatum agreed to a five-year, $163 million agreement with the Celtics in November 2020. All indications lead to Boston signing the Duke product to a new agreement this offseason.
The Celtics selected Tatum with the third overall choice in the 2017 NBA Draft. Tatum has made five All-Star teams and three All-NBA teams with the Celtics, averaging 23.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists.
The Celtics have made four Eastern Conference Finals and one NBA Finals appearance during Tatum’s tenure. Boston lost the 2022 Finals against the Golden State Warriors in six games.
This season, the Celtics appear to be the clear title favorites. They currently hold the best record in the NBA.
Tatum, 26, is averaging 27.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists this season, shooting 47.4% from the field, 38.2% from beyond the arc, and 83.0% from the line.
It’ll be amazing to see how far the Celtics advance in the 2024 playoffs. If Boston does not win the championship, Tatum and his teammates will undoubtedly be disappointed with their season.
On the first episode of his “Mind the Game” podcast with former NBA shooting guard JJ Redick, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James heaped praise on Tatum.
LeBron highlighted Tatum’s progress since entering the NBA in 2017.
“He’s 25 years old, and I believe he’s been to the conference finals four times,” LeBron remarked of Tatum. “I’ve been to the NBA Finals once. He’s 25. I didn’t win my first until I was 28. I believe the Joker (Nikola Jokic) won his first at the age of 27. I believe Michael Jordan was 28 as well.
“I believe we have high expectations for JT, but he has had a lot of success in his career so far. And, of course, everyone wants to see him win it, but four conference finals and a Finals appearance before the age of 26 is extraordinary.”
