Celtics news: Jayson Tatum agrees to extension worth $195M over 5 years

Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum, a first-time All-Star last year, agreed to a max contract extension on Saturday worth $195 million over five years

On the same day 2017 NBA Draft classmate Donovan Mitchell received his new deal, Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum has reportedly reached his own max contract extension, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

Tatum gets the full designated rookie max extension, with the All-NBA escalators that'll take it near $200M, sources said. Tatum's agent Jeff Wechsler and Celtics finalized details today. https://t.co/SfGjPRc3J5

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 22, 2020

The rich contract is a five-year extension worth $195 million—the same figure Mitchell will earn, too.

Both Tatum and Mitchell led their respective teams to 2020 NBA playoff runs, with Tatum and the Celtics going as far as the Eastern Conference Finals. Boston lost in six games to Finals runner-up Miami Heat.

Jayson Tatum was the third overall selection of the 2017 draft while Mitchell was plucked at No. 13.

The Duke product gets the financial security along with the assurance the Celtics will remain competitive with teammates Kemba Walker and Jaylen Brown still on the team for the foreseeable future.

Tatum averaged 23.4 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 34.3 minutes per game for the Celtics last season, appearing in 66 regular-season games and shooting 45.0 percent from the field, 40.3 percent from 3-point range, and 81.2 percent from the free throw line.

The Celtics have found their new star in Tatum, who is joined by Brown, Walker, and longest-tenured Celtic Marcus Smart as the team's very competitive core seeking to push through and finally reach the NBA Finals.

This offseason saw small forward Gordon Hayward opt out of his $34 million player option with the Celtics to instead choose free agency, ultimately signing a four-year, $120 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets. Hayward was the lone man out, at times, conflicting with the ascension of Tatum and Brown.