26 July 2023 , 15:57
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The Boston Celtics have made history by signing Jaylen Brown to the largest ever contract in the NBA.
The forward has agreed to a five-year deal worth $304 million (£235.5m), surpassing the previous record set by Nikola Jokic with the Denver Nuggets. The new contract also marks the first "supermax" deal awarded to a player. Under this lucrative agreement, Brown will earn $52m (£40.2m) in his first season, with his salary gradually increasing each year.
By the final year of the contract in the 2028/29 season, Brown will be making a staggering $69m (£53.4m), reports the Express US. Brown's outstanding performance during the previous season played a crucial role in securing thje record-breaking deal.
He averaged 26.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, establishing himself as a rising superstar in the league. Prior to this latest contract, Brown had signed a four-year extension worth $106.3m (£82.3m) in 2019, which was set to expire in 2024.
However, the Celtics' commitment to Brown goes beyond financial considerations. This deal demonstrates their intention to keep Brown and fellow superstar Jayson Tatum together, dispelling any rumors of a potential split between the two players.
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Over the years, Brown has been the subject of trade speculations, with fans expressing frustration over the team's inability to secure a championship despite having strong rosters. There were even rumors of Brown being traded for players like Kevin Durant and Luka Doncic.
Jaylen Brown has signed the biggest deal in NBA history (Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)Brown himself had previously hinted at the possibility of leaving Boston and addressed his future at the end of the season. He said: "I expected to win tonight and move on.
"That is what my focus was on and that is what my focus has been on. We failed, I failed and it is hard to focus on anything else right now. We will cross that bridge when we get there."
But he has now become the highest-paid player in NBA history with the Celtics, surpassing Jokic's previous record.