OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA – MAY 22: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder accepts … More
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After cementing himself as the most impactful member of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the team’s history, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned yet another well-deserved payday. As first reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, the 26-year-old is signing a four-year, $285 million super maximum contract extension following the Thunder’s recent NBA Championship.
This is now the highest annual salary for a player in the history of the league, and it’s well deserved.
Even before Gilgeous-Alexander won the NBA’s Most Valuable Player Award last season and then led Oklahoma City to its first-ever title, this was a contract extension that was a no-brainer. He’s the face of the franchise and the position that the Thunder finds itself in wouldn’t be possible without him.
The only uncertainty around Gilgeous-Alexander inking a long-term pact with OKC was the timing. He had the option to sign the extension this offseason, which is the route he took, but he also could have waited until next summer and earned a slightly different extension. If the Thunder superstar had waited until the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, he would have been eligible for a five-year deal with a slightly higher per-year projected average financially. That would have made him the first player to officially be projected to earn $80 million in a single season, but instead, he opted to take the shorter contract sooner.
Regardless, this is a great deal for both parties. Gilgeous-Alexander earns a deal that makes him the richest player in the NBA in terms of annual salary, while the Thunder ensures it has one of the best players in the league for at least another six years. Gigeous-Alexander will play the upcoming two seasons on his prior rookie scale extension at roughly $38.3 million and $40.8 million, respectively. From there, his new supermax extension will trigger, meaning the first season of this mega contract will be the 2027-28 campaign.
The 2030-31 season will be the last of this brand new deal for Gilgeous-Alexander. He will be 32 years old at that time and making close to $80 million per season as the cap continues to rise. By then, there’s a real scenario in which he has solidified himself as an all-time great in this league with multiple championships under his belt. Oklahoma City is in one of the best situations in the entire NBA with the level of young talent and draft capital in its arsenal. Although the roster is going to continue getting more expensive, which is part of building a great team, the Thunder’s finances are still in a good place and sustained success is still very much possible.
From here, the Thunder is expected to sign two more significant contract extensions, with both Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren being eligible for rookie max extensions. The expectation is that both of those rising stars will ink those deals very soon, which would lock Oklahoma City’s big three into place for years to come.
This was a milestone day for the Thunder, as the franchise and the face of it agreed to partner long-term.
