All-NBA Snub Costs Jayson Tatum An Insane Salary Bump

All Celtics star Jayson Tatum had to do for a $33 million bonus was be selected as a first or second team All-NBA player. After a monstrous campaign, most in basketball expected his name to be on that list — but he didn’t make it.

Yikes.

The fact that Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum missed out on $33 million tonight because of media voting seems utterly ridiculous.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) June 16, 2021

NBA rules state that a rookie’s max extension can be 25% of the cap if named to an All-NBA team. And considering Tatum averaged 26.4 points on 46 percent shooting at a 38.6 percent clip from deep, he deserved the nod.

So who took his spot?

First team:

Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, and Kawhi Leonard.

No complaints so far, but here’s where Tatum got screwed.

Second team:

Damian Lillard, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Julius Randle, Joel Embiid, Rudy Gobert, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Bradley Beal, and Kyrie Irving.

How can the NBA argue that Jimmy Butler, who had a down year on an underperforming Heat team, should make an All-NBA team? Tatum’s Celtics may have massively underperformed as well, but why does his team’s lack of success matter when Butler’s doesn’t?

Bradley Beal is another example of an elite player playing losing basketball who was still recognized by an All-NBA vote. This league is simply picking standards out of a hat, and it’s costing players millions.

Unfortunately for Jayson Tatum, this is a $33 million mistake. And yeah, I understand Tatum will sign a deal for north of $30 million annually, so no one feels that sorry for the guy. Still, no one wants to give up money when he shouldn’t have to. Sort of like paying taxes.

All NBA Teams… Who do you think got ROBBED the most?? pic.twitter.com/7RkgirFWrh

— Mike Korzemba (@mikekorz) June 16, 2021