NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agrees to record US$285 million extension: reports
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander celebrates with fans with a champions parade throughout downtown Oklahoma on June 24.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LOS ANGELES – Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a four-year US$285 million (S$363 million) contract extension, the richest per-year contract in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, US media reports said on July 1.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who guided the Thunder to the NBA championship in June after a campaign that saw him win regular season and Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, is now tied to the club up to 2031.
The 26-year-old Canadian point guard has two years remaining on his existing contract with Oklahoma City worth US$79.1 million.
The four additional seasons of his contract extension will see him receive US$62.5 million, US$68.6 million, US$73.7 million and then US$78.7 million in 2030-31.
The deal gives Gilgeous-Alexander the highest annual salary in the NBA, eclipsing the average US$64.3 million salary of the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid and the US$62.8 million earned by the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum.
Gilgeous-Alexander was the fulcrum of the Thunder’s dazzling 68-win Western Conference season, before inspiring the team to a 4-3 NBA Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The Thunder ace averaged a league-high 32.7 points during the regular season and 30.3 points in the NBA Finals on his way to completing his MVP double.
He became only the fourth player in history to win both NBA regular season and Finals MVP awards as well as the league’s scoring title, putting him into an exclusive club, alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal.
Gilgeous-Alexander, who turns 27 later in July, has career averages of 24.4 points, 5.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds in 462 games (453 starts) with the Los Angeles Clippers (2018-19) and Thunder.
Meanwhile, his teammate, All-Star forward Jalen Williams, underwent surgery to repair a torn tendon in his right wrist on July 1 and is scheduled to be reevaluated in 12 weeks.
Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said on June 30 that Williams played through a torn ligament the entire post-season.
Williams, 24, averaged 23.6 points per game in the Finals. He averaged 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in the play-offs after being selected to the All-NBA third team in the regular season.
News of Gilgeous-Alexander’s contract extension came as the NBA’s free agency window cranked into top gear after the opening of the window on June 30.
The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving nine-time All-Star guard Damian Lillard and signing free agent centre Myles Turner, ESPN reported on July 1.
The decision did not sit well with Giannis Antetokounmpo, according to NBA reporter Chris Haynes.
The Bucks are stretching the remaining US$113 million on Lillard’s contract over the next five seasons, per the report, using the “stretch and release” provision in the collective bargaining agreement. Lillard is currently recovering from surgery in May to repair a torn Achilles tendon.
Antetokounmpo has been mentioned as a trade candidate this off-season. Among teams with reported interest in a deal should the Bucks part with the two-time MVP are the San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks. Antetokounmpo has spent all 12 of his NBA seasons in Milwaukee.
Turner spent his entire 10-year career with Indiana. He agreed to a four-year, US$107 million contract with Milwaukee, per ESPN. The deal reportedly includes a player option in the final season in 2028-29 and a 15 per cent trade kicker, a bonus paid to Turner in the event he is traded.
Turner, 29, helped the Pacers reach the NBA Finals this season, losing to the Thunder in seven games. He averaged 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in 72 starts in the regular season, and 13.8 points, 4.8 boards and 2.0 blocks in 23 starts in the post-season.
Lillard turns 35 on July 15 and faces a long rehab from the Achilles injury to return to top basketball form. A timeline has not been formally set, but he will likely miss a large chunk of the 2025-26 season and possibly all of it. AFP, REUTERS
