Jayson Tatum will ‘NOT TOUCH’ $315 million contract and live only off endorsement deals

Jayson Tatum has been one of the main stars for the Boston Celtics for the past few years. He was a key pillar in the Celtics’ championship run last season. Although he didn’t win the Finals MVP trophy, Tatum posted some of the most efficient playoff numbers, helping the Boston Celtics capture their 18th championship, the most of any franchise.

After his outstanding season, the Celtics offered Jayson Tatum the richest contract in NBA history. Tatum signed a five-year, $315 million supermax contract extension , surpassing his teammate Jaylen Brown as the holder of the richest contract. The 26-year-old forward’s new deal will begin in the 2025-26 season with an estimated value of $54.1 million per year.

Recently in an interview with Clutch Points, Tatum talked about his contract. He stated that he will not be touching the money earned from his player contract.

I really started taking it seriously my second or third year, me and my mom had made a commitment to each other that I was going to save all my NBA money and live off my endorsements. Because you have the rest of your life to live and your family to take care of and kids and whatnot, pretty early on. Jayson Tatum said

He even stated that he made a commitment to his mother that they would save his NBA earnings and live on money from endorsement deals. Tatum made this decision with his family’s future in mind.

Last season, Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game, earning a spot on the All-NBA First Team. At 26 years old, Tatum is in the prime of his career. Fans can expect the Boston Celtics to remain dominant next season, even as the Eastern Conference grows stronger.

Doug Gottlieb opines on Jayson Tatum getting benched

Jayson Tatum was undoubtedly one of the best players in the NBA last season, helping the Boston Celtics win another championship after many years of a championship drought. Following his dominant performance, he was selected to represent Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In USA’s first group stage game against Serbia, Tatum didn’t play at all. Doug Gottlieb expressed his concerns about Tatum being benched on his Fox Sports show. Gottlieb stated that, despite Tatum’s numerous achievements and success, seeing him benched was a painful sight.

He said, ‘Win a championship, new contract, cover of 2K, and then you sit the whole game, cover of Sports Illustrated, so it’s definitely humbling.’ I’m just gonna tell you right now…How it reads to me is Jayson Tatum seems like a colossal pain in the a**. Doug Gottlieb via Fox Sports

Steve Kerr faced a lot of backlash for his decision to bench Tatum. In response, Kerr vowed to play Tatum in the next game, stating that the team needed him to win.