Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is about to join the NBA’s ultra-wealthy club, with a mind-blowing $72 million starting salary that could make him one of the highest-paid players ever.
The Oklahoma City Thunder superstar’s upcoming payday is turning heads across the league. ESPN insiders Tim Bontemps and Brian Windhorst broke the news Friday that SGA’s next contract could start at that “staggering” $72 million figure.
But that’s just the beginning.
The 25-year-old guard could sign a four-year supermax extension this summer worth nearly $300 million. If he waits until 2026, he could get an even bigger five-year deal.
Here’s what’s really wild: By the 2030-31 season, he could become the first NBA player to earn $80 million in a single year.
The Thunder are already getting their money’s worth. SGA is having an incredible season, leading the entire NBA with 32.5 points per game. He’s not just scoring either – he’s doing it efficiently, shooting nearly 53% from the field.
“He’s playing at an MVP level,” one league executive said. “The Thunder struck gold with him.”
Speaking of MVP, Gilgeous-Alexander is currently the favorite to win the award. He’s putting up career-best numbers across the board:
– 5.2 rebounds per game
– 6.0 assists
– 2.0 steals
– 90.4% from the free throw line
Just last month, he dropped a career-high 54 points against the Jazz, showing exactly why he’s worth every penny of his upcoming mega-deal.
The timing couldn’t be better for Oklahoma City. They’re sitting pretty at the top of the Western Conference with a 37-9 record, and SGA is the main reason why.
He’s already in the third year of a $179.3 million contract, but that’s starting to look like a bargain. His current deal includes some nice bonuses too – he’s guaranteed an extra $35 million just for making an All-NBA team.
The Thunder will need to get creative with their salary cap soon. With SGA’s massive extension looming and other young stars needing new contracts, the team’s payroll is about to skyrocket.
But when you’ve got a 25-year-old superstar leading the league in points (1,463), steals (150), and several other key stats, that’s probably a problem they’re happy to have.
For the first time since moving to Oklahoma City, the Thunder look like real championship contenders. And they’ve got their soon-to-be-very-rich superstar to thank for it.
