It is a first for the NBA with the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deal. The Oklahoma City Thunder’s reigning MVP and top scorer, who led the Thunder to the title, has signed a four-year, $285 million supermax deal with the Thunder, per ESPN. The contract keeps him in OK City for the 2030-31 season and also pays him approximately $71.25 million per year, the most ever paid to a player in the league’s history. Below, we take a closer look at the details, why the Thunder paid him and how he became a superstar.
SGA’s New Deal Is the Richest Annual Salary in NBA History
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has just made financial history. He was signed to a four-year, $285 million extension with the Thunder, ESPN reports, and the numbers made him the top on the list of pay hikes in the league. The number is the largest that any player has made in NBA history, averaging $71.25 million a season for him.
The next player up on the list is Joel Embiid with an average of $64.3 million. It’s a big prize for a player who was previously regarded as a trade chip. It’s also a testament to the extent that the Thunder trust him as the face of the Thunder.
Contract Terms: 4 Years, $285 Million Until 2030-31
The deal is considered to be a supermax extension, the highest amount a team can extend to a player. It is a four-year deal that keeps Gilgeous-Alexander with the Thunder until 2030-31.
A crucial element is the timing. The new money kicks in during the ’27-28 season, so he will continue to play for his current contract until then.
That provides Oklahoma City with long-term security on their best player and will give Gilgeous-Alexander some security during the prime years of his career. His message to the fans is straightforward: He’s not leaving.
Why the Thunder Rewarded the Reigning MVP
Why the payday? It’s clear. During the 2024-25 season, the NBA leader in points scored was given to the hands of Gilgeous-Alexander, averaging 32.7 points per game. He further contributed 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds per game, while grabbing one and a half steals on average. He was the league leader in effort (21.8) and in free throws made (7.9).
His season was all historic. He is the first player since 2000’s Shaquille O’Neal to win a scoring title and an NBA title in the same year. He also was the fourth player to win the scoring title, MVP and Finals MVP in the same season along with O’Neal, Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
His 32.7 points per game are the most by one player on a championship team. He is also the only player in baseball history who has averaged 50% shooting, 6 assists and 32 points in a single season.He and Jordan are the only teammates to go 50-50 with 32 points and 6 assists per game on the season.
Highest-Paid NBA Players by Average Annual Value
The average annual salary for the top five salaries as of July 2025 is as follows:
| Player | Team | Average Annual Value |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder | $71.3M |
| Joel Embiid | 76ers | $64.3M |
| Jayson Tatum | Celtics | $62.8M |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks | $58.5M |
| Anthony Davis | Mavericks | $58.5M |
Now, Gilgeous-Alexander is well out of the way of the pack. Numbers of contracts change frequently, and so these numbers may not be the same today.
From Clippers Trade Piece to Thunder Superstar
It wasn’t a cakewalk for Gilgeous-Alexander getting this deal. The Clippers traded him to the Thunder in their Paul George deal in 2019. Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari and five first-round picks were sent to Los Angeles, and at the time he wasn’t the primary figure in the trade.
Unfortunately, the early years were difficult, as Oklahoma City came up with less than 25 wins in two seasons. Sam Presti assembled a good team around him, however. The Thunder won 68-14 and are the youngest team to win a title, since the 1977 Trail Blazers.
Final Word
It’s a huge contract for the league when it comes to the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deal. It pays him the highest average salary in his career, locks him in OKC for 2030-31 and it pays him for one of the best guard seasons in NBA history. The new money begins in 2027-28, but it’s obvious today that the Thunder have made their choice as their franchise player.
FAQs
1. How much is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s extension worth?
It is a four-year, $285-million deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The average transaction size for the deal is approximately $71.25 million per year.
2. When does the new deal start?
The extension starts from 2027-28. In the meantime, he is on his current contract. The new deal extends through 2030-31, which is long-term with the Thunder.
3.Why did SGA get a super max deal?
Led the league by points with 32.7 and MVP in the league. He also scored to earn an NBA championship and a scoring title in the same season.
4. What is the figure of NBA’s top 4 players after SGA?
Joel Embiid was second on the list with $64.3 million per year. Jayson Tatum was next at $62.8 million.
5.How did Gilgeous-Alexander get to the Thunder?
He was acquired by Oklahoma City in 2019 via the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers sent him, Danilo Gallinari and five first-round picks to the Thunder for Paul George.
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