According to Wayne Sterling of CNN on Tuesday, Boston Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown of Murietta, Georgia became the richest player in National Basketball Association history. He signed a five-year contract worth $304 million, and is now set to make $60.8 million per year. Brown is also the first player in NBA history to sign a total contract that reached $300 million.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic of Sombor, Serbia is the second richest player in the NBA. On July 9, 2022, the 2024 NBA Finals most valuable player signed a five-year contract worth $264 million according to Pat Graham of the Associated Press. Jokic is currently making $52.8 million per year.
Brown averaged 26.6 points per game, 6.9 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, and 1.1 steals per game in 2022-23. He also had a field goal percentage of .491, free throw percentage of .765, and three point percentage of .335.
In seven seasons with the Celtics, Brown is averaging 17.9 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 2.2 assists per game, and one steal per game. He also has a field goal percentage of .491, free throw percentage of .723, and three point percentage of .365.
The fact that the Celtics are making a gigantic financial commitment to Brown is interesting, when you consider the fact he has not led the Celtics to a championship in his career, and has not even reached the 20 point per game plateau in 470 career NBA games since joining Boston in 2016. You could make the argument that Brown is not even the best Celtics player and is behind Jayson Tatum.
Three arguments in support of Brown are the fact he can play shooting guard and small forward, is a two-time NBA All-Star (2021 and 2023), and has scored 50 points in a game. He accomplished that feat in a 116-111 win over the Orlando Magic on January 2, 2022.
For FREE!
