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24-hour recap: Jaylen Brown’s mega-deal and more

ByLeocciano Callao|
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 27: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics speaks during a press conference following game six of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on May 27, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MAY 27: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics speaks during a press conference following game six of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on May 27, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

If you haven’t been paying attention, you’d think it has been relatively quiet in the NBA world lately. With the biggest stories, i.e., Damian Lillard and James Harden’s pending wishlists awaiting action, fans are not receiving the haymakers they expect from the headlines.

However, the past 24 hours have been quite eventful in basketball. In case you missed it, here’s what has taken place.

Jaylen Brown gets the bag

On Tuesday, Jul. 25, Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax contract– the largest deal in NBA history.

This past season, Brown averaged 26.6 points per game and got selected for the All-NBA Second Team. But after struggling in the Playoffs, many thought that Boston’s Eastern Conference Finals exit meant the end of the road for them and Brown. The 26-year-old has been with the Celtics since they drafted him in 2016, and he is here to stay.

The nod goes to Brown and his team for securing this excellent deal. The laugh goes toward Brown’s high school teacher who told him he’d end up in jail. And the pressure is on the Celtics to win a championship after paying their second-best player this much money.

Bronny James is in stable condition

On Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for the James family reported that Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday during practice with the USC Trojans.

In a statement, the spokesperson said that the 18-year-old James “is now in stable condition and no longer in ICU.”

“We ask for respect and privacy for the James family and we will update media when there is more information. LeBron and Savannah wish to publicly send their deepest thanks and appreciation to the USC medical and athletic staff for their incredible work and dedication to the safety of their athletes.”

Athletes in and out of the NBA showed their support for the young prospect amid a scary time. Our thoughts and prayers go out to James for a speedy recovery.

NBA unveils the first In-Season Tournament group

The NBA has given us a glance at one of the groups coming out of the Eastern Conference for the inaugural tournament.

East Group A consists of the following teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Detroit Pistons.

The In-Season tournament is a shot in the dark, but the NBA is taking the gamble. Whether or not the race to the first NBA Cup lives up to their wishes is a mystery. But on the bright side, the fanbase seemingly has low expectations for this experiment.

For what it’s worth, we could see some exciting games in a group that involves Joel Embiid, Trae Young, and Donovan Mitchell. Indiana should be as competitive as last season, and the Pistons are young and hungry.

But as for this tournament overall, like Taylor Swift once said, “It’s gonna be forever, or it’s gonna go down in flames.”

In other news, Austin Rivers went on his podcast and slammed players for demanding trades. The 11-year veteran elaborated on how the practice is bad for the league and specifically called out James Harden and Ben Simmons as catalysts for this culture. Meanwhile, Rivers’ Minnesota Timberwolves teammate Kyle Anderson gained naturalized citizenship from China and will play for them in the upcoming FIBA World Cup.