Getting a nomination to an All-NBA Team used to just be a nice honor for a player to have on their resume, showing they were among the best of the best that season. However, in recent years, making that team has had a monetary impact.
Making an All-NBA Team can result in qualifying for a supermax extension and more money for a player to earn on their next contract. It was added in to help incentivize players from leaving small-market clubs, as they wouldn’t approach that kind of money signing elsewhere.
One player who missed out on that extra money is Jayson Tatum. He was named to the All-NBA First Team this season, but since his contract has already started, he isn’t eligible for a bump in pay.
“What’s the saying? A day late and a dollar short,” Tatum said Wednesday in Miami, following the Boston Celtics’ shootaround ahead of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Heat. “It wasn’t really being incentivized by the money (last year). I just kind of felt disrespected.
“I’m just thankful (this season). First-team All-NBA, that’s a big deal, so I am grateful for that.”
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Jayson Tatum is joined on the first team by MVP Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks. Conspicuously missing from that list is Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, who finished second in MVP voting.
With Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid both being labeled as centers, it meant one of them would not be eligible for first-team, which still uses the traditional two-guard, two forward, and one center alignment. It is something that Tatum believes should be changed.
“I do think it should be positionless,” Tatum said. “Joel Embiid was second in MVP voting and he made second team? It doesn’t really make too much sense.”
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Jayson Tatum makes a good point, as the NBA has become positionless more and more in recent seasons. Keeping the awards to match something teams aren’t deploying as much on the court doesn’t make too much sense.
The Boston Celtics star didn’t stop there with his recommendations. He also believes there should be a minimum number of games played and that it should be considered that only players that are on teams that qualify for the postseason be eligible to make an All-NBA Team
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While the sentiment makes some sense, players who perform well should be rewarded for their production regardless of team performance. Because a player can earn more money making an All-NBA Team, it needs to remain something that rewards production without team success being a barometer.
