Celtics’ Jayson Tatum just misses All-NBA, loses hefty bonus as a result

Tatum will lose out on as much as $32 million over the life of his current contract as a result of the snub.

Boston Celtics All-Star forward Jayson Tatum was not among the players named to the league’s three All-NBA teams Wednesday night for the 2020-21 season per a press release circulated by the Association. An outcome likely to be regretted by the St. Louis native, he will not be eligible for a $32 million bonus to his rookie extension as a result.

Tatum had been eligible to receive 30% of the NBA salary cap if he qualified by making one of the three All-NBA teams, but will now earn $28.1 million next season, $30.3 million in 2022-23, $32.6 million in 2023-24 and $37 million in the final season of his current deal should he opt into the final season of the contract in 2024-25, per Celtics Blog’s Keith Smith.

For the Celtics front office, the snub means additional flexibility under the salary cap for team building, perhaps providing Tatum with better odds of adding talent to propel him back onto an All-NBA squad in 2021-22.