Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum signs five-year max contract extension

Jayson Tatum has agreed to a five-year, $195M designated rookie max extension with the Boston Celtics.

Considering the way this past weekend turned out for the Boston Celtics during the start of free agency, things got a little better when the team gave Jayson Tatum his much deserved max contract extension.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Tatum is getting the full designated rookie maximum contract extension. By Tatum being an All-Star and making an All-NBA team last year, he increased the amount of money he was eligible for in his extension.

In just his third season at 21 years old, Tatum set career highs and led the Celtics with 23.4 points per game (45 percent from the field) while shooting over 40 percent on 3-pointers, was second on the team in rebounds (seven), fourth in assists (three), and also had 1.4 steals per game in what turned out to be an All-Star season for him last season.

Furthermore, in just three seasons, Tatum has already risen into being one of the best shooters in Celtics history. He currently ranks 10th all-time in team history with 410 career 3-pointers made, which puts him seventh all-time in career 3-point field goal percentage (40.1). Tatum’s shooting prowess puts himself in elite company with Larry Bird, Walter McCarty, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce.

Third overall pick Jayson Tatum made good for the Boston Celtics

After being the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, Tatum solidified himself as being a cornerstone and franchise player for the Boston Celtics. The team knew he was the real deal during his rookie season when he became a starter and averaged 13.9 points, five rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while helping lead the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Since his rookie year, Tatum has only increased every aspect of his game and has proved so in dramatic fashions. We’ve seen him put up a monster dunk over LeBron James, score 39 points in the TD Garden while tightly covering Kawahi Leonard, and followed up that performance by putting up 41 points in the home of his idol Kobe Bryant at the Staples Center against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Tatum has also contributed to leading the Boston Celtics to the playoffs in each of his three seasons and to the Eastern Conference Finals in two out of the last three years since he’s been in the league. Tatum has since proved himself as being one of the best players in the NBA and the Celtics have recognized that.

There isn’t too much that Tatum can’t do on the basketball court. He came into Boston having so much talent and potential has proved so in every game. He’s also improved the very few weak spots in his overall game, such as becoming a stronger defender and passer while transforming into an All-Star player before our eyes.

"“I think he’s really doing a great job of recognizing situations. He’s getting more thrown at him every game and, as you can tell, there’s a hunger to continue to improve. So, I think the best part about this story is he’s had a year worthy of being named an All-Star and he’s gotten better since he was named an All-Star. So, those are usually good signs.” – Brad Stevens, per NBC Sports Boston"

By locking up Tatum for the next five years (really six since it is an extension), the Celtics recognize that building a team that can contend for championships each year is more of a reality than anything else. In preparation for doing so, the Celtics now have Tatum and Jaylen Brown under contract together for at least the next four seasons.

Tatum and Brown together give the Boston Celtics one of the best young foundational duos the NBA has to offer for years to come.