Jaylen Brown?s five-year $304 million contract has turned heads. This is the most expensive contract in the history of the NBA. Thanks to his amazing two-way game, the Guard landed this extravagant contract. While it is the heftiest one in the history of the NBA, it is a marker of things to come. It implies that superstars are going to get paid north of $70 million a year soon.

Have the Celtics overpaid Brown or are they following suit? Stephen A. Smith chimes in.

Stephen A. Smith defends the decision to keep Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum together

The ESPN analyst who is known for his hot takes sided with the Celtics. On his YouTube show, Smith addresses the critiques that consider Brown as ?not worth the money?. He situates the nature of sports contracts in the layoffs at ESPN caused by revenue reduction.

The ESPN layoffs also saw hugely talented sports commentators and analysts such as the NBA?s Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose fired. In this context, he also dove into the ongoing strikes by artist guilds in Hollywood. In the context of such mass layoffs, Smith has a simple answer to whether Brown deserves the major bag.?

He passionately states, “The market is what dictated Jaylen Brown?s ability to capitalize even though he is not even the best player on the Celtics. Jaylen Brown is not better than Jayson Tatum. He played better than in the Finals against Golden State. He did not play as well as he could have played in Game 7 of these last Eastern Conference Finals against the Miami Heat. It was not his shining moment.?

Despite his cold play against the Miami Heat, Smith showered praise on the athlete. He pointed out, ?But Jaylen Brown is an absolute stud. He can ball, he plays on both sides of the ball.” Praising him further, the analyst continued, “He is a professional, he cares, he gives it all he has. He is a conscientious observer off the court of play.” And that“he represents the Boston Celtics and the NBA brand in prestigious fashion.?

Then the analyst lauded the timing of this contract, ?…timing of the contractual situation presents itself at an opportune time.? He pointed out that ?the new TV money coming in, the elevation of NBA cap, the increase in salaries for guys capable of capturing max deals -? this has made supermax contracts possible for borderline superstars too.

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Apart from these nuanced observations, the veteran also talked about the salary that Brown?s teammate Jayson Tatum is going to receive.

The future of max deals per Stephen A. Smith

Smith goes on, “First thing that came to my mind. You are paying Jaylen Brown three and four million dollars, I guess Jayson Tatum is about to get three fifty. Two players on the Boston Celtics are going to make six hundred million dollars!?

Smith gives Brown and Tatum duo credit for making it to five Eastern Conference Finals. He lauds the decision to pay Brown big because he thinks this Boston Celtics team has a lot to offer and still poses a threat as a championship aspirant.

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Do you think Brown will be able to meet those aspirations? Share your views in the comments below!