Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Jaylen Brown Inks $304 Million Extension, Richest in NBA History

  • Brown’s five-year, $304 million supermax extension with the Boston Celtics is the largest contract in NBA history.
  • The fully guaranteed deal breaks the previous $264 million record set last summer by the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic.
Brown's deal breaks the previous $264 million record set last summer by the Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Jaylen Brown has agreed to a five-year, $304 million supermax contract extension with the Boston Celtics, signing the richest deal in NBA history. 

The fully guaranteed deal has a trade kicker and no player option, according to Marc J. Spears. Brown has played all seven career seasons with the Celtics since Boston drafted him with the third overall pick in 2016. Last season, Brown averaged a career-high 26.6 points per game and earned second-team All-NBA honors to become eligible for a supermax contract extension, which could be 35% of the team’s total salary cap.

Brown will make $52.3 million this season with annual increases of roughly four million each year until he’s set to earn $69.1 million in 2028-29, the deal’s final season, according to Bobby Marks. The five-year deal, negotiated by Brown’s agent Jason Glushon, has an average annual salary of 60.7 million. 

At 26 years old, Brown has surpassed the previous NBA contract record signed last summer by Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, which totals $264 million over five years through 2028. Bradley Beal ($251M), Devin Booker ($234M), Karl-Anthony Towns ($234M) round out the top-five richest NBA contracts, followed by Giannis Antetokounmpo (228M), Stephen Curry (215.3M), and the $215.1 million deals all signed by Luka Doncic, Zach LaVine, and Trae Young. 

Brown will next be a free agent at age 33 in 2029. The Celtics have not won a championship since 2008 and fell to the Miami Heat in the seven-game Eastern Conference Finals last season.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Apr 26, 2026; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant (9) scores a basket during the second half against San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Moda Center.

Blazers and City Increasingly at Odds Over Arena Funding

The arena funding debate has devolved into a three-way fight.
Apr 18, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts against the Houston Rockets during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Silver Wants LeBron Decision So NBA Can Finalize Schedule

James’s free agency choice will help shape the NBA’s national TV schedule.
Gilbert Arenas Podcast Playmaker
Exclusive

Gilbert Arenas Podcast Lands at Playmaker After Underdog Exit

Arenas recently departed Underdog after three years.
Tom's Watch Bar

Sports Bars Are Cashing In From Summer of Soccer

The World Cup has brought a windfall to America’s biggest sports bars.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

A Conversation with Jake Paul on Women’s Sports, Prediction Markets & $100M Investment Fund

0:00

Featured Today

Jun 16, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; France forward Michael Olise (11) controls the ball against Senegal during a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at New York New Jersey Stadium

Where World Cup Stars Go to Customize Their Cleats

The world’s best players turn to a Scottish craftsman for perfect cleats.
July 10, 2026

What the World Cup Means to Erling Haaland’s Tiny Hometown

The tournament’s breakout star is from a rural Norwegian town.
July 10, 2026

Why So Many Media Outlets Are Rushing Into Sports

Sports coverage has ballooned in every corner of media.
Pillow Fight Championship
July 8, 2026

How Obscure Sports Get Mainstream TV Deals

For niche sports, getting on TV often matters more than getting paid.
ATLANTA, GA - September 05: Georgia Lottery fireworks after the game against the Seattle Mariners at Truist Park on Friday, September 5, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
July 2, 2026

Inside the Spectacle and Science of MLB Fireworks

Postgame fireworks are lighting up baseball for America250.
Topgolf celebrates the grand opening of its newest location in Parsippany, N.J., on July 2.

‘Golf Is Having a Moment’: Topgolf CEO Talks Expansion Plans

Leonard Green & Partners acquired a 60% stake in Topgolf.
June 5, 2026

Tottenham Boardroom Rivalry Ends With Former Chairman’s Exit

Spurs say they “don’t know anything about” the deal.
Aksha Bhatia, Max Homa, and Tiger Woods of Jupiter Links before a TGL match against New York Golf Club at SoFi Center on January 13, 2026, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
July 6, 2026

Versant Buys Woods-Backed Golf Simulator Company for $530M

Full Swing is the predominant technology used by TGL.
Sponsored

Inside the EY 2026 Sports Engagement Index: The Real Map of American Sports Participation

EY’s latest index explores how shifting U.S. fan behaviors are expanding the definition of sports engagement.
Charlie Pliner and Nikolas Rohrmann
May 22, 2026

How 2 Brown Undergrads Became Sports Dealmakers

An experimental project turned into a permanent course and business deal network.
Casey Wasserman, Chairperson and President of LA28, during the media conference celebrating the 1000-day countdown to LA28 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
May 8, 2026

Wasserman Buyers Narrow as PE Conflicts Sideline Major Firms

Private-equity firm TA Associates has removed itself from the running.
April 23, 2026

Want to Own a 100-Year-Old Austrian Soccer Team for $500?

Vestible’s first team is Kapfenberger SV 1919.
April 16, 2026

How Taylor Swift’s Catalog Led Her Former Label Boss Into Sports

Scott Borchetta profited greatly from the sale of Swift’s masters.