Two-Time All-Star Jaylen Brown Moving Closer to Supermax Deal With Celtics
Jaylen Brown will play in the NBA All-Star Game for the second time.
But his selection as a reserve for the Feb. 19 game at Salt Lake City isn’t a make-or-break deal for the 26-year-old Celtics star by way of Cal.
“I’m grateful,” Brown told reporters Friday. “But at the same time, there’s a lot more important things to worry about.”
Brown, who scored 22 points in 2021 All-Star Game but was left off the roster last season, said he tries not to let these type of things impact his self-esteem.
“From a mental standpoint, I’ve kind of just gotten a habit of not letting others determine my value,” he said. “People give you accolades, or people criticize you, but I try to stay the same. I’ve kind of got a habit of that. So forgive me if I’m not showing my excitement because I’m extremely grateful.”
Jaylen Brown
Photo by David Butler II, USA Today
On a different level, however, this selection can potential have great value to Brown. If not a boost to his self-worth, it certainly significantly increase his net worth.
Chris Forsberg, the Boston Celtics Insider for NBC Sports, explained that these types of honors build a potential bridge for Brown to a supermax contract extension.
"This is the first step in getting towards an All-NBA nod, and if Jaylen gets that, it opens up the possibility of a supermax extension," Forsberg said. "This is a chance for the Celtics to lock him up much earlier than I think we anticipated and really gives you your core for the long-term, and gives Jaylen a whole bunch of money to feel secure about where he is in Boston.”
The key is that landing a spot on the All-NBA team — 15 players earn first, second or third-team spots — meets one criteria for being eligible for a supermax deal.
2023 NBA All-Star Roster
NBA.com
Of course, 24 players are chosen to the All-Star game, so at least nine of those won’t make an All-NBA team after the season. But Brown finished second in the media voting among Eastern Conference guards, and it’s the media that decides the All-NBA selections.
According to NBC Sports, if Brown makes an All-NBA team the Celtics could offer him a five-year supermax extension this offseason worth up to 35 percent of the salary cap. That could be worth approximately $290 million. That is more than any other team could offer him and could help the Celtics avoid a scenario in which he plays out his current deal and becomes a 2024 free agent.
He is earning $28.7 million this season.
Brown, who played the 2015-16 season at Cal, is averaging a career-best 27.0 points, along with 7.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for a Boston team whose 37-16 record is best in the NBA.
Cover photo of Jaylen Brown by David Butler II, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
