Three-time All-NBA center Rudy Gobert has agreed to a five-year extension worth $205m with the Utah Jazz.
Gobert, 28, was eligible to earn up to the same supermax $228m deal that the Milwaukee Bucks offered Giannis Antetokounmpo but said he took less to give the Jazz flexibility to build the roster.
“I want to win, and I feel like leaving this money on the table for the team just to be able to have better talent around me and Donovan (Mitchell) was really important,” said Gobert.
“I want to win, and I believe in this group and I believe in this organisation, and I was willing to leave that money on the table for them.”
Gobert, when quizzed about being awarded the largest deal ever given to a center said it showed faith from the team.
“It means that they believe in me,” Gobert said.
“They believe in what we’ve been building over the years with this whole organisation, with coach (Quin Snyder) and all the guys.”
Gobert has been named Defensive Player of the Year twice, he has made four All-Defensive teams and was an All-Star this past season when he averaged 15.1 points, 13.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks.
Since being the 27th overall pick in 2013, Gobert has averaged 11.7 points, 11.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks over 474 career games (382 starts), all with Utah.
The Jazz, who went 3-0 in preseason play, open the regular season at the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday.
Project LeBron James included in my master plan
The way they. All this money, you think it grows on a tree. Obscene wealth,. Imma take up sport.