Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have reportedly agreed to a historic four-year, $285 million contract extension, which would set a new NBA record for the highest single-season average salary. The agreement has yet to be officially announced and is expected to become public once the NBA’s offseason signing moratorium ends on Sunday.
ESPN was the first to report the news.
The timing is symbolic, as the deal was revealed on Canada Day, a fitting coincidence for the 26-year-old star from Ontario. Gilgeous-Alexander is coming off one of the most dominant individual seasons in league history—leading the Thunder to their first-ever NBA championship, while capturing the league’s scoring title, regular-season MVP, and Finals MVP.
The extension, classified as a supermax, was widely anticipated. Though he could have waited until next summer for a potentially larger deal, the Thunder secured him early. Based on the NBA’s projected salary cap, the deal would start around $63 million in its first year and rise to nearly $79 million by the 2030-31 season. That would average out to about $1 million per regular-season game, making it the highest single-season salary in NBA history.
Gilgeous-Alexander wasn’t initially viewed as a future superstar. Drafted 11th overall in 2018, he was traded to Oklahoma City from the Los Angeles Clippers after his rookie year. Since then, his career has taken off steadily and impressively.
Thunder GM Sam Presti praised Gilgeous-Alexander’s consistent growth. “He’s improved every year,” Presti said. “His mindset allows him to keep evolving, and I don’t think his progress is fragile. It’s built on fundamentals that are sustainable.”
Presti also described him as a “basketball artist” with the rare ability to blend instinct and intellect on the court. “The best people in any field operate with both the creative and analytical sides of their brain,” Presti explained. “He understands when to use each.”
The Thunder are positioned for long-term success. Their franchise cornerstone is now locked in, key players remain under contract through at least next season, and the team holds a substantial collection of future draft picks thanks to earlier trades.
After winning Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Gilgeous-Alexander expressed confidence in the team’s upward trajectory. “We’ve still got room to grow,” he said. “That’s what’s exciting—most of us aren’t even in our prime yet.”
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