Jayson Tatum: Anger over All-NBA Snub Had ‘Nothing to Do’ with Losing $32.6M Bonus

AP Photo/Kathy Willens

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum
said Monday his frustration with being left off the All-NBA teams for the 2020-21 season had “nothing to do” with the impact on his next contract.

Tatum is scheduled to start a
five-year, $163 million deal next season. If he had been named as one of the
six All-NBA forwards, the total value of that contract would have risen to $195.6 million, a $32.6 million increase.

“Yeah, I was mad about it and it had
nothing to do with the money,” Tatum told Gary Washburn of the
Boston Globe. “I just felt like I increased my assists, my points,
my rebounds. I clearly had a better season this year than last
season. With COVID and how it affected our team, I guess people held
that against me. I clearly should have made one of those teams but it
will happen, but just get better for next year.”

He added: “How could you watch my
game and the season I had and think I wasn’t one of the best 15
players?”

The forwards selected over Tatum were: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Julius Randle, LeBron James,
Jimmy Butler and Paul George.

While the 23-year-old Duke product put
together his best statistical season, averaging 26.4 points, 7.4
rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.9 threes across 64 appearances, he ranked
40th among all NBA players in ESPN’s Real Plus-Minus and 41st in
FiveThirtyEight’s Total Raptor.

Tatum, who publicly discussed the lingering impact of COVID-19 on his performance throughout the season, previously hinted on the Beyond
the Press podcast (via Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston) that the money was part of the equation but added he was “more frustrated” about the perceived snub in general.

“I know I should have made it,
just I guess with the season I had,” he said in June. “I mean, $33
million on the line. Obviously, that would make anyone feel some type
of way.”

Financial details aside, Tatum will
remain a crucial piece of the Celtics’ future as they attempt to
bounce back from a lackluster 36-36 season that ended with a
first-round playoff exit to the Brooklyn Nets.

The two-time All-Star is under contract
with Boston through the 2024-25 season, with a $37.1 million player option for
2025-26.