Jayson Tatum agrees to a record 5-year, $315 million extension with Celtics

To cap off one of the busiest news days in recent memory for the Celtics, they handed out the richest contract in NBA history by signing Jayson Tatum to a five-year, $314 million maximum extension. This deal surpasses Jaylen Brown’s five-year, $304 million supermax extension from last season, setting a new record.

Since free agency opened, Brad Stevens and the Celtics have had quite the 24 hours. By picking up Sam Hauser’s team option, re-signing Luke Kornet, and extending Derrick White, the reigning champs will have their top nine rotation players under contract through next season, with all five starters under contract through at least the 2025-26 campaign.

Locking up the five-time All-Star in Tatum was Boston’s number one priority this offseason, and now that it’s completed, the duo of Tatum and Brown will remain in Boston through at least the 2028-29 season.

The C’s drafted Tatum out of Duke with the third overall pick in 2017, one year after taking Brown with the number three overall selection.

Since then, the 26-year-old superstar has already etched his name throughout the Celtics’ franchise record books, leading Boston to five Eastern Conference Finals appearances and two trips to the NBA Finals in just seven seasons, and bringing the city a championship last season.

Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and a career-best 3.9 assists during the regular season, shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 37.6 percent from 3-point range. He was named to the All-NBA First Team for the second consecutive season this year, marking his fourth All-NBA selection.

In the postseason, the 6-foot-8 wing led the team in points (25.0), rebounds (9.7), and assists (6.3) per game while providing solid defense. Tatum joined Hakeem Olajuwon, LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Tim Duncan, and Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to win a title and lead their team in total points, rebounds, and assists.

Tatum, a consistent MVP candidate, will now be in Boston through the 2029-30 season, positioning himself to further cement his legacy as one of the all-time greats in Celtics franchise history.