Ex-Cal Standout Jaylen Brown Set For Record Contract After Named to All-NBA Team
The Boston Celtics, who hoped to return to the NBA Finals this season, suddenly find themselves on the verge of being knocked out of the playoffs, trailing the Philadelphia 76ers 3 games to 2 in their best-of-seven second round series.
Boston and Philly play Game 6 on Thursday.
The news was better for Celtics star Jaylen Brown, the former one-and-one Cal standout. Brown was named to an All-NBA team for the first time in his career, and his timing will be financially rewarding.
Jaylen Brown drives against an Atlanta defender.
Photo by Dale Zanine, USA Today
After being selected alongside the likes of Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic to the All-NBA second team, Brown is eligible to receive a five-year, $295 million supermax contract extension this summer.
Brown, who will play the final year of his four-year, $115 million deal next season, now is poised to sign the richest contract in NBA history because of a clause in the collective bargaining agreement.
Had he not made one of the three All-NBA teams, Brown would have been eligible for a four-year, $189 million extension this offseason.
Brown, 26, had career-high averages of 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists in his seventh NBA season. He made the All-Star game for the second time in his career.
The Celtics made two the NBA Finals last season, where they lost in six games to the Warriors. Now both teams are on the brink of watching their seasons end.
Others named to the All-NBA second team were Jimmy Butler and Donovan Mitchell.
The first team features Jayson Tatum, Brown’s Boston teammate, who becomes eligible in the summer of 2024 for a five-year extension worth $318 million. The Celtics likely want keep their all-star duo together, but doing so will cost them more than $600 million.
Also named to the All-NBA first-team are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Luka Doncic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The third team has LeBron James, who earned his 19th consecutive All-NBA selection, Sacramento Kings teammates De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis, Julius Randle and Oakland native Damian Lillard.
Cover photo of Jaylen Brown by Eric Hartline, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
