July 8: Gilgeous-Alexander’s lucrative new four-year mega-deal is now official, the Thunder confirmed in a press release.
July 1: The Thunder and reigning Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander have agreed to a four-year, super-max contract extension, reports Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter link).
The contract will begin in 2027/28, adding four years to the two left on Gilgeous-Alexander’s current deal and locking him up through at least the ’29/30 season, with a player option for ’30/31, per Charania (Twitter video link).
While Charania refers to it as a $285MM payday for the Thunder star, the exact value of the contract will depend on where the 2027/28 salary cap ends up — Gilgeous-Alexander’s super-max extension will start at 35% of that season’s cap, with 8% annual increases from there. Charania’s projection assumes a 7% cap increase for next year, as projected by the NBA on Monday, followed by a 10% increase in 2027.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who will turn 27 later this month, is coming off one of the most successful seasons in NBA history. He racked up 32.7 points per game on a shooting line of .519/.375/.898 while also contributing 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.0 block per contest.
He followed up that regular season performance this spring by averaging 29.9 PPG during the postseason and leading the Thunder to their first title in Oklahoma City.
Those performances earned Gilgeous-Alexander MVP honors in both the regular season and the NBA Finals, making him the 16th player in league history to win both awards in the same year. It hadn’t happened since LeBron James pulled off the feat during the 2012/13 season.
Gilgeous-Alexander actually met the performance criteria for a super-max contract (also known as a “designated veteran” deal) in 2024 by making an All-NBA team for a second straight season, but wasn’t permitted to sign his extension until this summer because he hadn’t yet met the service-time criteria.
A player with between seven and nine years of experience typically has a maximum salary of 30% of the cap, but can qualify for 35% by being named MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, or All-NBA in the most recent season or in two of the previous three seasons.
Gilgeous-Alexander had the option of waiting another year to sign his super-max extension — at that time, he could’ve added a fifth year, increasing the total projected value to nearly $370MM. However, it doesn’t come as a surprise that he opted not to leave this sort of payday on the table for another year.
The Thunder will now shift their focus to two other key extension candidates, as both Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren are eligible this offseason for rookie scale extensions as they prepare to enter their fourth year in the NBA.
OKC owner was a big leader in the need for a hard cap but now its going to hurt their team. Now that these players are going to get paid.
Do they have a second Super Max guy on the roster tho?
I think we may see some guys paid, moved, and talent replenished with all these picks they have.
I think they’ll be fine, esp with the cap going up each year.
They are going to have tough decisions to make with Holmgren and Williams contract coming up next year. they did do a good job in locking up some young players early. CBA is designed so there is no more dynastys.
CBA is almost designed like you need to be some cap wizard like Howie to figure out what you can or can’t do at this point. Very over complicated now.
It’s not really a choice. They move Williams for a reasonable contract and picks. Chets defense and ability to be a 3rd option as a stretch big just can’t be replaced.
“They are going to have tough decisions to make with Holmgren and Williams contract coming up next year.”
Chet and Jaylen were drafted in 2022, they are eligible for rookie extensions already. They will be extended, but probably later on, before the season starts, because it will allow the team more financial flexibility next year when the free agency opens.
Philly did it with Maxey and that’s why they were able to make the moves last summer. Houston did it with Sengun and Green in 2024, signing them to contracts in October, which allowed them to have so much room this summer for the moves they made. I’m not sure how it works technically, but there’s something in extending rookies later on rather than on day 1 when they become eligible.
Houston extended Jabari on day 1, though, probably because his contract is so good and they didn’t want him to get 2nd thoughts.
Arc, they possess 20 picks the next few years, I think they’ll just be find. Hartenstein’s replacement was drafted already this year, along with them retaining and extending majority of their bench. I think they’ll be fine. Also, don’t forget they can trade for any disgruntled superstar since they don’t have a 2nd max player on that team plus the role players contracts and picks.
And do you REALLY want to bet against Sam Presti? I wouldn’t, and neither should you.
They are going to be in a battle agaisnt Rockets and Spurs who has done the same. So bringing in free agenst will be like how many older teams are dealing with a low minmum you can use. How many draft picks they trade to improve if a injury occurs to a top star?
Rockets? They are one KD injury away from being a play in team again. Besides KD who can get their own shot on that roster, off the dribble or spot up? Spurs? They need to go thru growing pains with Wemby and the other guys. Plus it’s not a lock for them to resign Fox, that’s something to worth monitoring this upcoming year. I think the biggest challenge in the West for OKC will be their own ego. If they want to be remembered, they need to check their ego’s at the door and still be hungry each and every season. Plus some of these picks are unprotected for OKC so they will still be eating.
Rockets lacked offense and now they added offense. Same as saying without SGA injury they would lose.
Without SGA, they have Jalen Williams who went off for 40 in a Game 5 of the finals. Can Sengun do that? FVV? Jabari? I highly doubt it. Also, the wild card in this entire scenario is Topic who they are saying is a 6’6 Steve Nash. It’s a great problem to have, they aren’t being micromanaged by their owner or GM and front office understands, stay out of the way and let Presti do his thing.
Things change quickly in the NBA. In teh west there are 2 other young teams that are like OKC with assets to trade. So if OKC has an injury they will be trading those assets to keep up. OKC will also find out being champs means every team in the NBA will be going 120% against you every night.
120% every night…unless you are my team :) and we lose draft slots on buzzer beater half court shots during middle of the season and MENTION IT DURING THE DAMN PRESSER!
Sorry Arc I wasn’t yelling at you, I promise lol.
What is going on with Giddey??
They’re waiting on his market I believe after the spectacular debacle of negotiations on Patrick Williams last offseason, and I do mean SPECTACULAR.
There is going to be no max extensions maybe some 1 year deals.
Oh you’d think so, but you haven’t followed our front office. Lmao
A couple of years ago, they were among the lowest, if not the lowest in cap, but success can make you change your tune.
Look at the Celtics with two max guys. No center no money!
Saves them money in the future, had he taken it a year later it would be like 5/390M or something. Shai thinking about competing for multiples and not just individual titles.
Best player in the world getting his $. Gotta love it
Today title odds West
Thunder
Nuggets
Rockets
Clippers
Nuggets STILL have $14.1mm MLE and $16.8mm TPE to use
I think the Nuggets have a chance to really be good again. Lots of money to work with and get creative.
I would put Dallas in the top 5 mos def. They are the deepest team in the NBA when Kyrie is back
@Sillivan
Who asked?
Well deserved…