Celtics forward Jayson Tatum missed out on $25,180,736 over four years because he didn’t make an All-NBA team last season ($32,600,060 if he opts into the fifth year of his contract extension).
That’s a consequence of the league’s super-max rules. Though contract terms are still subject to negotiation between teams and players, players are eligible for a higher max-salary tier only by making All-NBA or winning MVP or Defensive Player of the Year. So, significant power lies with award voters.
Tatum on “The Old Man & The Three“:
I specifically remember one person saying, “I’m not a fan of his shot selection, so I just couldn’t put him on my All-NBA ballot.” And I was baffled.
The fact that somebody could have that thought and basically cost someone 30 million dollars – forget about me. Say the next rookie-extension guys that come in. I think that has to change. Because there’s no criteria set for the media, for the voters on who they should vote for. It’s like all…