"HE DESERVES EVERY FREAKING PENNY" - STEPHEN A. SMITH DEFENDS JAYSON TATUM AFTER HE SIGNED THE BIGGEST DEAL IN NBA HISTORY
Many became intrigued and lost their minds when Jayson Tatum secured the NBA's biggest deal ever with the Boston Celtics. As JT committed to a record-breaking $314 million five-year extension, some fans and pundits developed mixed perceptions that questioned whether the 25-year-old star truly deserved this massive paycheck from the franchise.
But amid plenty of public criticism about his new deal with the Celtics, Tatum meanwhile gained solid support from Stephen A. Smith.
A no-brainer deal
In a recent segment of his Stephen A. Smith Show, the renowned ESPN analyst strongly echoed his belief that Tatum fully deserves the big-time contract from the Celtics.
"Here's the bottom line: They're champions. And when Jayson Tatum won the championship, that solidified his $314 million, even though he's gonna get it anyway. … Jayson Tatum was the No. 1 option, he averaged 27 [points] per game, he led the No. 1 team in the NBA all season long, they had the best record in the game, and they were clearly the best team," SAS argued.
He further pointed out that besides winning a championship this year, it is a no-brainer for Boston to offer JT the richest contract, considering the league's skyrocketing salary cap. That being said, Smith is convinced that Tatum earned everything he got from the organization, considering his growth and stardom throughout the years as the team's centerpiece alongside Jaylen Brown.
"Jayson Tatum is a star in this league. He deserves every penny. And with the climate being what it is, the salary cap elevating to what it has elevated to, with the salaries for the NBA escalating, with cats getting $48 to $50 million and more normally, you can't knock anybody for giving Jayson Tatum this money. He's not even 28 and Jayson Tatum has been in five Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and he's now an NBA champion. There's nothing to talk about here. He deserves every freaking penny, and he certainly deserves this. We can't argue with this," he concluded.
JT deserves the big payday
It is ridiculous that some have still doubted Tatum's lucrative deal. Yes, it's undoubtedly mind-boggling how today's NBA players easily receive staggering amounts in their contracts. But at the end of the day, JT rightfully earned his privilege to receive it with his current status as one of the best players in the world who helped his Celtics clinch their elusive 18th banner.
As Tatum is just about to enjoy the peak of his career, it would be gratifying to see him eventually silence his critics and naysayers upon achieving this groundbreaking contract in this successful year, similar to what his teammate did last season.
2024-07-04T08:17:03Z dg43tfdfdgfd