Jayson Tatum is the newest member of the NBA’s $300 million club.
The Boston Celtics star has agreed to a five-year, $314 million contract extension to remain with the reigning NBA champions, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday.
The new pact will begin with the 2025-26 season and keep the five-time All-Star in Boston through 2029-30 season, according to the person who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it has not been announced.
The Athletic and ESPN were first to report the deal.
When completed Tatum’s new, supermax contract will become the largest in NBA history, supplanting the one signed last offseason by teammate Jaylen Brown, when he inked a five-year deal that will pay him up to $304 million.
Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and shot 47% from the field in earning All-NBA first-team honors for the third consecutive season. Those numbers grew to 25 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game during a playoff run in which he eclipsed 30 points six times, including 31 in their championship-clinching Game 5 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
He will look to add to his hardware this summer as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team when it attempts to capture its fifth consecutive gold medal. Tatum previously won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
News of Tatum’s deal came on the same day that fellow Celtics starter Derrick White reportedly agreed to a four-year, $126 million extension. All five of Boston’s starters –- Tatum, Brown, White, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis — were already under contract for next season. With Tatum and White’s new agreements they now all could be together through at least the 2025-26 season.
The deal also came on the heels of the Celtics ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck, announcing its plans to sell all of its shares by 2028.
Barring any significant roster changes, Boston is expected to have a combined payroll and luxury tax that will exceed $400 million when Tatum’s contract takes effect.
___
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
___
This version corrects the Tokyo Olympics to 2021.
—
Rephrased content:
Jayson Tatum has joined the exclusive $300 million club in the NBA. The star player for the Boston Celtics has agreed to a five-year, $314 million contract extension that will keep him with the current NBA champions until the 2029-30 season, a source familiar with the situation revealed on Monday. The deal, slated to begin in the 2025-26 season, makes Tatum’s new contract the largest in NBA history, surpassing the previous record set by his teammate Jaylen Brown last year with a $304 million contract.
Tatum, a five-time All-Star, achieved impressive statistics in the previous season, earning All-NBA first-team honors for the third consecutive year with averages of 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists while shooting 47% from the field. During the playoffs, his numbers improved further, with averages of 25 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game, including stellar performances where he scored over 30 points six times, notably in the championship-clinching Game 5 against the Dallas Mavericks.
Apart from his NBA success, Tatum is set to compete for another gold medal this summer as he is part of the U.S. men’s basketball team aiming for their fifth consecutive Olympic title. Tatum previously won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. On the same day as Tatum’s contract extension, Celtics starter Derrick White reportedly agreed to a four-year, $126 million deal, ensuring that the team’s core starting lineup will remain intact for several more seasons.
Boston’s ownership group, led by Wyc Grousbeck, recently announced their intention to sell all shares by 2028. With Tatum’s hefty contract set to take effect, the Celtics are anticipated to have a combined payroll and luxury tax exceeding $400 million unless significant roster changes are made in the coming seasons.
