Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signs record $285 million extension with Thunder

A week after winning the NBA title, the Oklahoma City Thunder secures its superstar’s services for years to come. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has accepted a four-year contract extension worth $285 million, tying him to the Thunder through the 2030-2031 season, according to ESPN.

This signing now represents the highest annual salary in league history. This is Gilgeous-Alexander’s second contract extension as a Thunder player, solidifying the partnership and mutual trust between both parties since his arrival in OKC in 2019.

BREAKING: NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a four-year, $285 million super maximum contract extension with the championship Oklahoma City Thunder through 2030-31, sources tell ESPN. This is now the richest annual salary for a player in league history. pic.twitter.com/eptbVjUo6j

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 1, 2025

A historic season crowned with the title

The 26-year-old Canadian is coming off an exceptional season where he collected individual accolades. Gilgeous-Alexander won MVP, Conference Finals MVP, NBA Finals MVP, and First-team All-NBA selection. He averaged 32.7 points on 51.9% shooting, 6.4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game in the regular season, followed by 30.3 points in the NBA Finals.

This performance allows him to join an exclusive circle of players who have won both MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. Only Michael Jordan (four times), LeBron James (twice), Larry Bird (twice), Tim Duncan, Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Magic Johnson, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Willis Reed had previously achieved this feat.

Gilgeous-Alexander also became the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win both the scoring title and NBA championship in the same season. His 32.7-point average is also the highest ever recorded by a championship player, surpassing Jordan’s 1992-1993 record by one-tenth of a point.

Acquired after his rookie season in the Paul George trade with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2019, Gilgeous-Alexander has been the face of the franchise since the Thunder’s rapid rebuild. His commitment to the organization never wavered, even during difficult 22 and 24-win seasons, before the spectacular leaps of the last three years, with this 24-25 campaign of 68 wins and the NBA title.

This surprise extension could have been even larger had the player waited until next offseason, but it opens a sustainable championship window for Oklahoma City, which is also looking to extend Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren this summer.