Celtics' Jaylen Brown shows humility with latest gesture
Jaylen Brown recently signed a supermax contract extension with the Boston Celtics worth $288.2 million over five years.
Brown became eligible for the massive contract by being named to the 2023 All-NBA second team. The contract makes him the highest-paid player in NBA history. As such, there has been some debate as to whether the Celtics overpaid for their star wing.
Throughout his career, Brown has become known for his philanthropy and kind-hearted approach. Therefore it should come as no surprise to find out the Georgia native recently sent out thank you letters to those that voted him into an All-NBA team at the end of the regular season.
Brown, a two-time All-Star, had an impressive 2022-23 campaign. In 67 regular-season games, the former top-three draft pick averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, shooting 33.5% from three-point range and 49.1% from the field. Scoring may not have been a problem for Brown, but Celtics fans felt that his playmaking ability and defense both needed improvement.
Now that Brown has signed a long-term contract extension with Boston, he will need to show a willingness to improve his game—most notably his ability to handle the ball in traffic. Otherwise, all the goodwill in the world won't stop him from being labeled as an overpaid star.
Nevertheless, another All-Star appearance in the upcoming season and a deep run toward the NBA Finals should be more than enough to prove Brown is worthy of his new contract. Yet, as the salary cap continues to rise, the deal may begin to look like a solid piece of business as others around the league get bigger deals in the coming years.
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