NBA legend and Hall of Famer Rick Barry has shared his candid assessment of Jaylen Brown’s historic contract with the Boston Celtics.
In a recent interview with Joy De’Angela, Barry delved into the financial and performance aspects of Brown’s deal, expressing his concerns about the player’s production in relation to the monumental contract.
Barry pointedly remarked on the staggering figures involved in Brown’s contract. “You look at some of the contracts they have. Like [Jaylen] Brown. $306 million. I mean, that’s just hard for me to believe,” he said. “You know what his average in the playoffs for them – is 18.5 points a game! 18.5 points a game and he’s going to make $69 million in the last year of his contract. But 18.5 points a game – that’s nothing! Seriously.
“To pay somebody that kind of money, and he’s a nice player, I really like him, but man, he’s got to improve his game. He turns the ball over too much, he tries to force things, and so is his teammate [Jayson] Tatum. That’s one of the reasons they lost to the Warriors two seasons ago. They make too many turnovers.
“In the game of basketball there’s a saying ‘Keep it simple, stupid.’ Keep it as simple as possible. You take what the defense gives you,” Barry told De’Angela.
The Celtics made headlines earlier this offseason when they secured Brown’s services for the long term with a five-year supermax extension. The contract features a progressive salary structure, with Brown set to earn $52,368,085 for the 2024-2025 season, eventually reaching $69,125,872 for the 2028-2029 season.
Despite Brown’s impressive averages of 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game during the previous season, Barry urged for improvement in his game. The NBA champion elaborated on his concerns, emphasizing the importance of simplifying play and minimizing turnovers to enhance overall team performance.
