The All-NBA announcement has always been a significant moment in the NBA calendar, but this year’s announcement has a unique impact on several players, including Ja Morant and some Celtics stars.
The All-NBA first team saw Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and Kawhi Leonard on the list. The All-NBA second team includes Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, Joel Embiid, Julius Randle and LeBron James. The third team, meanwhile, is comprised of Kyrie Irving, Bradley Beal, Paul George, Jimmy Butler, and Rudy Gobert.
While the All-NBA selection is an achievement in itself, it carries a lot more weight than just being a regular season honor. It has significant implications for player contracts and negotiations.
One player who has been significantly impacted by the All-NBA announcement is Ja Morant. As a result of not receiving an All-NBA selection, Morant lost out on a potential $30 million extension from the Memphis Grizzlies.
A clause in the latest collective bargaining agreement states that a player on his rookie scale deal can qualify for a maximum salary extension of 30% of the salary cap if he makes an All-NBA team. If Morant had been named to an All-NBA team, he would have been eligible for the extension.
Despite Morant’s impressive performances this season, he did not receive significant recognition for his efforts, ultimately costing him a substantial amount of money. Nevertheless, Morant is a young talent with a bright future in the league.
Meanwhile, the announcement also had implications for several Boston Celtics players. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown missed out on All-NBA selection, which could potentially impact their contracts negotiations in the future.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Tatum missed out on a $32 million extension, while Brown would have been eligible for a $27 million extension had they both made an All-NBA team.
The absence from the All-NBA teams does not diminish the talent and potential of Tatum and Brown, but it will surely impact the Celtics’ future negotiations with them.
At the end of the day, the All-NBA selection is just one metric of evaluating a player’s value and contribution to their team. Their potential contribution to a team’s success cannot be brushed aside by a mere endorsement. The recognition from the league, however, is always welcomed. For those who did not receive an All-NBA selection this year, it should serve as a source of motivation to aim for it in the future. As for Ja Morant and Boston Celtics stars, their agents will have to work harder to secure them the best deals.
