Boston Celtics stars Tatum, White sign multi-year contract extensions
Contract also signed with first-round draft pick Baylor Scheierman
Contract also signed with first-round draft pick Baylor Scheierman
Boston Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Derrick White have both signed contract extensions to stay with the reigning NBA Champions.
Team officials announced both of the extensions on Saturday, but declined to confirm terms of the agreements.
Tatum and White were key parts of the Boston team that beat the Dallas Mavericks 106-88 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to win the series and put an exclamation point on their domination of the NBA’s 78th season. With their 18th championship win, the Celtics also broke the tie with the Los Angeles Lakers, the only other team in the league with 17 championship victories.
Tatum, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, a career-high 4.9 assists, and 1.0 blocks per game last season while shooting 47.1% from the field. During the playoffs, he averaged 25 points, 9.7 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 1.1 steals.
The 6-foot-9-inch tall forward, who was drafted third overall by the Celtics in 2017, has developed into one of the NBA's top two-way talents, partnering with Jaylen Brown — whom Boston signed to what was a record extension a year ago.
ESPN previously reported that Tatum's deal is the largest in NBA history, worth $314 million over five years.
Video below: Highlights from Celtics' victory parade
“Jayson is a special person and player, and it’s been a thrill for all of us to watch his entire journey in Boston,” said Brad Stevens, President of Basketball Operations. “He has embraced all that comes with being a great Celtic and shows consistent and genuine care for every one of his teammates, coaches, and staff across the organization. Despite all the team accomplishments and individual awards, Jayson is committed to constantly improving. He works hard and is extremely driven by the challenges of the game – especially the goal of competing with his teammates for championships. We are obviously ecstatic that Jayson chose to extend his contract and add to his amazing career as a Boston Celtic.”
White has appeared in 181 games with the Celtics since joining the team in February 2022. With Boston, he has averaged 13.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.0 blocks in 29.9 minutes per game.
White's four-year deal is worth $125.9 million with a player option, ESPN previously reported.
“Derrick is a great player who has immersed himself in the Boston community since joining us in the Spring of 2021,” said Stevens. “Derrick brings a joy and selflessness to our building every single day. He’s committed to improving and has shown that in each year of his career. More importantly, he cares most about the things that matter, including building great relationships and competing with integrity. We are very lucky that Derrick is a Celtic and are thrilled he’ll be here for years to come.”
Also Saturday, the Celtics announced a contract with Baylor Scheierman, who was selected by the team with the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Scheierman, a Nebraska native, made 133 starts and appeared in 162 career collegiate games at South Dakota State and Creighton.
Scheierman is expected to make his Celtics debut at the NBA 2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas.
