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By Alex Kirschenbaum
Contributing Entertainment Writer
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The Boston Celtics have had an active Monday.
Just a few weeks removed from claiming their league record-shattering 18th title in a five-game obliteration of All-NBA guard Luka Doncic's Dallas Mavericks, the team extended two of its championship-winning starters. All-Defensive Team guard Derrick White just inked a four-season, $125.9 million contract extension with a player option.
Next, Boston announced that longtime governor Wyc Grousbeck was selling his stake in the team.
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Now, the Celtics' best player, All-NBA combo forward Jayson Tatum, has signed the biggest contract in the history of the league.
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According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the team is signing the five-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA honoree to an NBA-most five-season contract worth an estimated $314 million, which will keep him under Celtics control through 2029-30.
This deal now eclipses his All-Star teammate (and the 2024 NBA Finals MVP) Jaylen Brown's five-year, $304 million maximum contract extension, the previous record-holder for the NBA's biggest deal ever. Brown, drafted a year prior to Tatum, agreed to the contract with Boston during the 2023 offseason.
During the 2023-24 season with Boston, Tatum led the Celtics to a 64-18 regular season record, the best in the league, and an absolutely dominant 16-3 playoff record. Across 74 healthy regular season contests, the 6-foot-8 former Duke Blue Devil posted averages of 26.9 points on .471/.376/.833 shooting splits, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, one steal and 0.6 bocks, while serving as the club's starting four.
Tatum made his third consecutive All-NBA First Team, while finishing in the top six of MVP voting for the third straight season. Tatum also finished ninth in Clutch Player of the Year voting.
Across 19 overall the playoff games, Tatum averaged 25 points, although his long range shooting took a massive dip. He connected on just 28.3 percent of his triple tries, after becoming the focal point of opposing defenses. Thankfully, Boston's top eight players are all excellent long range snipers, so head coach Joe Mazzulla was able to deftly employ a five-out offensive scheme and keep opposing defenses honest, even amidst Tatum's struggles. He also averaged 9.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.7 blocks a night during the team's run to the NBA Finals, Tatum's second appearance with the club and first win.
With Tatum, Brown, All-Defensive guards White and Jrue Holiday, starting center Kristaps Porzingis and his aging former All-Star backup Al Horford all signed through the 2024-25 season (and everyone beyond the 38-year-old Horford signed beyond that), the Celtics appear to be the favorites to at least return to the Finals next season, in a fairly weak Eastern Conference. The team may be pricey, but it appears to be well worth the sticker tag.
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