Why Jaylen Brown’s position as the first player in NBA history to earn $300 million is suddenly in doubt

Do you recall the news cycle that broke this offseason when Jaylen Brown signed his record-breaking contract? The news surrounding his contract at the time centered on his recent discovery of becoming the first player in NBA history to earn $300 million.

We even attempted to predict who the first $400 million player in the league would be. The majority of headlines regarded the statistic as fact since it was so huge.

Nevertheless, a keen-eyed Redditor saw that Spotrac’s estimate for Brown’s deal underwent a minor adjustment last week. Right now, $286.23 million is anticipated to be paid to him under his new contract between the 2024–2025 and 2028–2029 seasons. There were no incentives in the deal. The season isn’t even over yet, even if it was. What alterations have been made to Brown’s contract terms?

Apparently, they haven’t. The contract’s conditions haven’t even been finalized yet. This has to do with an intriguing anomaly in the NBA’s maximum salary calculation process. In the end, Brown’s reputation as the first $300 million player in NBA history will depend on external economic circumstances.

Why? because the wage cap determines the maximum compensation for a certain season. According to his supermax contract, Brown will receive 35% of the salary cap during the first year of the agreement. This is when things become tricky. Although Brown signed his contract in the offseason of 2023, it didn’t go into effect until the 2024–2025 season. Put otherwise, he agreed to accept 35% of a pay cap.

Apparently, they haven’t. The contract’s conditions haven’t even been finalized yet. This has to do with an intriguing anomaly in the NBA’s maximum salary calculation process. In the end, Brown’s reputation as the first $300 million player in NBA history will depend on external economic circumstances.

Why? because the wage cap determines the maximum compensation for a certain season. According to his supermax contract, Brown will receive 35% of the salary cap during the first year of the agreement. This is when things become tricky. Although Brown signed his contract in the offseason of 2023, it didn’t go into effect until the 2024–2025 season. Put otherwise, he agreed to accept 35% of a pay cap.