The biggest contract in NBA history: Boston Celtics signs Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics' star player, Jayson Tatum, has secured a historic deal, reportedly becoming the highest-paid player in NBA history. In accordance with sources from The Athletic's Shams Charania and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Tatum and the Celtics have agreed upon a five-year, supermax contract worth a staggering $314 million, extending through the 2029-30 season. This is prepared by SSP.

Requests for confirmation of the contract have been sent to both the Celtics organization and Tatum's agent; however, responses have not yet been received at the time of writing.

Just last month, the 26-year-old, alongside teammate Jaylen Brown, propelled the Celtics to their 18th franchise title—an NBA record. The duo showcased their skills in a triumphant showdown against the Dallas Mavericks, with Tatum garnering impressive averages of 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists throughout the series.

This groundbreaking contract surpasses the league's previous record set by Brown last year. In 2023, Brown agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax extension with the Celtics.

ESPN reveals that, with Tatum's signing, the Celtics have now secured the services of their entire starting lineup until at least the 2025-26 season.

Selected as the third overall pick in the 2017 draft, Tatum boasts an impressive basketball resume, with five All-Star appearances and four All-NBA selections. Moreover, he anticipates winning another Olympic gold medal as part of the renowned United States team, which has clinched the previous four men's titles. The team is set to compete in Paris in the forthcoming weeks.

Monday also saw an announcement from the Celtics, revealing that the team's ownership group, headed by Wyc Grousbeck, plans to put the franchise up for sale. This comes as a surprise shortly after their latest championship victory. The franchise is expected to secure a buyer for a majority interest either this year or early next, with the remainder to conclude by 2028.

Despite the anticipated ownership shift, Grousbeck, who spearheaded the team's acquisition in 2002, will remain as Governor until the secondary close in 2028.

Forbes previously reported the Celtics' estimated value to be approximately $4.7 billion as of October.