The first of the three piece, a long term salary extension for the best all-around basketball player in the world, Shai Gilgious Alexander, was inked today between him and the Oklahoma City Thunder. General Manager Sam Presti and OKC came to terms today giving the Thunder the playing rights to SGA through the 2031 season. The amount of the extension, $285 million, makes 2025 MVP of both the regular season and playoffs, the highest paid player in the history of the Association.
As of ESPN:
NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a four-year, $285 million super maximum contract extension with the champion Oklahoma City Thunder through the 2030-31 season, sources told ESPN on Tuesday.
This is now the richest annual salary for a player in league history.
He has now signed two contract extensions as a member of the Thunder, cementing both sides’ partnership and trust since he arrived in Oklahoma City in 2019.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who averaged a league-high 32.7 points during the regular season and 30.3 in the NBA Finals, joined an exclusive list of players to win the MVP and Finals MVP in the same season. The only others to accomplish that feat are 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.
The next move for GM Presti is the inking of All-star Jaylen Williams (Jay-Dub) and future All-star post/wing player Chet Holmgren, the 7’1 unicorn out of Gonzaga University. Both are expected to sign new extension contracts this summer, possibly in a few days.
With all three booked to play on Reno Street for the foreseeable future, the dynasty of the Thunder is taking shape. It is a wonderful day in “the Big Town” for Thunder Nation.
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