Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Oklahoma City Thunder have finalized a groundbreaking four-year contract extension valued at $285 million, marking a historic milestone for NBA salary averages. This deal positions Gilgeous-Alexander as the holder of the highest single-season average salary in league history, a source revealed, speaking on the condition of anonymity before official announcements occur due to ongoing moratoriums on offseason signings.

This agreement was first highlighted by ESPN. The timing of the news coincides with Canada Day, a meaningful occasion for the 26-year-old player from Ontario, who is coming off an extraordinary season. Gilgeous-Alexander not only led the Thunder to their inaugural NBA championship but also achieved the league’s best record while sweeping essential individual honors, including MVP awards for both the regular season and Finals, as well as claiming the scoring title.

The supermax extension was anticipated; however, it raised discussions about whether Gilgeous-Alexander should have held out for a potentially higher payout in the following summer season. Current projections suggest he could earn approximately $63 million in the first year and nearly $79 million in the 2030-31 season. This figure translates to an average of roughly $1 million per regular season game, putting him firmly in the record books.

Arriving in the league as the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft, Gilgeous-Alexander has consistently evolved beyond initial expectations, transitioning from the Los Angeles Clippers to the Thunder post-rookie year. Thunder’s General Manager, Sam Presti, is confident in his continued growth:

“He’s gotten better every single year. His mindset has allowed him to take these steps and also not — I don’t feel like his progress is, like, volatile…”

Presti further praised Gilgeous-Alexander as a “basketball artist,” emphasizing his unique ability to blend creativity with objectivity in his gameplay.

As the Thunder solidify their position for years to come, bolstered by locked-in contracts for all major players and a wealth of future draft picks acquired through trades, Gilgeous-Alexander expresses enthusiasm about the team’s potential for further improvement:

“We definitely still have room to grow. That’s the fun part of this. So many of us can still get better. There’s not very many of us on the team that are ‘in our prime’ or even close to it.”