Celts, B’s, Sox: #BeanBust 2026
When the owners of a pro sports team agree to pay a player $60 million dollars to play 82 games, they must expect him to be a big winner.
Jayson Tatum of the Celtics is in the first of a five-year contract paying him $300 million to win basketball games – the biggest salary deal in NBA history.
The average per-game payout was actually much higher this, the first year, because Tatum only played 22 games due to time away healing from an injury suffered last year.
By the numbers, on Saturday night Tatum’s 2025-2026 seasonal salary of $60 million proved to be a big waste.
He called out sick just before the Celts took on the 76ers at the Garden in the seventh and last game of their series, which was tied 3-3 going into the pivotal game.
Boston lost by nine points at the final buzzer, 109-100 – without Tatum in the lineup in the first round of the playoffs.
Philly now advances to challenge the Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“Boston’s Season Comes to Shocking End in Game 7 Loss to 76ers,” headlined NESN.
Without Tatum on the court Philadelphia came back from a three-game deficit for the first time in its history, putting the Celtics away.
“Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (left-knee stiffness) is sidelined for Boston’s win-or-go-home game against Philadelphia,” NBA.com headlined just before the game started.
“He just came in today with knee discomfort,” coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters 90 minutes before the key game started. “The medical team and myself decided for him not to play.”
Tatum briefly left Game 6 in the third quarter for unspecified treatment to his calf, AP reported.
He’s just 22 games into his return from a torn right Achilles tendon injury he suffered in last season’s playoffs.
After the sixth game, Tatum said that his leg was only feeling “a little stiff.”
By Saturday night, he was out.
$60 million doesn’t do much for a sore knee – or for sore owners who hope Tatum’s next year’s $60 million will get them at least a berth in the semifinals, let alone a championship.
I remember when John Havlichek’s right arm was basically unusable, so he shot only left handed and led the Celtics to victory in the playoffs over Kareem Abdul Jabar’s Milwaukee Bucks. I guess that was a different planet.
Celtics have a big choice to make this offseason. Either they find a big man rim protector or resign themselves to winning nothing in the post season. The 76’ers took them to the wood shed with Embid, Maxie and Edgecomb shooting and driving to the hoop without effective resisitance from Boston. It was the first time in Celtic’s history losing a 7 game series after being up 3-1 – a total collapse. Next year won’t be any better without a big man in the middle.
You mean that Havlicek didn’t steal the ball? I haven’t watched an NBA game since Larry Bird was playing.
Basketball players are now softer than baseball. Jason should take a good look at the co-tenants of the Garden to see how heart and dedication in the playoffs works. Take a good look at the injuries the Bruins played through against Buffalo.
I remember Willis Reed, Isaiah Thomas, Jordan, Brady and Mahomes all delivering greatness while severely injured. Champions. I remember Sam Jones, per Russell, practicing by himself for 4 hours before game 7. He scored 47 points on the way to a championship. Celtics lost 3 in a row to the seventh seed. So soft.
Well writing head line like that tells me that u r not sports fan and probably not from New England