Paul Pierce reasons why he approves Jaylen Brown’s supermax extension
The Boston Celtics had a crucial offseason ahead after their unceremonious exit in the 2022-23 Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat, despite nearly climbing back from down 3-0 to win the series. The biggest decision surrounded Jaylen Brown, who was supermax extension eligible after earning second-team All-NBA honors.
Brown eventually signed the five-year supermax, which will be worth up to nearly $304 million, beginning in 2024-25, if the cap is raised by a full 10 percent. According to RealGM’s current cap projections, it’s projected to grow approximately 4.4 percent, meaning his final salary figure would be $288 million.
Nevertheless, it’s the richest contract in NBA history up to this point. It was viewed by many as a polarizing decision from Boston’s perspective as to whether or not Jaylen Brown “deserved” it, but former Celtics forward Paul Pierce recently weighed in on why he believes this contract was the right decision for Boston.
“Jaylen is a smart guy and his value to the city goes beyond basketball,” Paul Pierce told Heavy’s Steve Bulpett. “You can tell from what he’s said. I think the Celtics looked at all of that.
“When you invest that much in somebody, it usually is something that can go beyond basketball — especially when you’re talking about the richest deal in NBA history. His influence, who he is as a person, you take that all into account. So you have to feel good giving it to somebody, and I know they feel good because of his influence, not only on the court, but off the court.”
Brown, 26, has been very open about wanting to invest in Boston’s community, hoping to launch “Black Wall Street” to help with racial financial disparity, as well as continue his 7uice Foundation.
“Here, the wealth disparity is Top 5 every single year I’ve been in Boston and nobody really talks about it,” Brown said to reporters in late July. “I definitely want to put some projects together and I think it will stimulate the entire economy and bring everyone up at the same time … me being from those communities, just because I escaped those barriers that allowed me to make it to the NBA doesn’t mean I’m going to forget about the groups I came from. I’m just trying to help as much as I can and just ultimately make the world a better place.”
“It will take some work and will be a multi-year plan, but with the right political leaders and the right selected leaders, also with the help of the NBA Player’s Association, Think 450 and our brotherhood, I think we can get the job done. It’s 2023 and I think we have the ability, the resources, and the mind frame to get it done. I’m looking forward to the future.”
Celtics wing Jayson Tatum will be supermax eligible next summer, which could net him nearly $340 million. Brown and Tatum are one of the best two-way tandems in the NBA and will look to make it back to the NBA Finals for the third time since its last title in 2007-08 alongside newly-acquired Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White, among others, in 2023-24.
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