The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed forward/center Jaylin Williams to a multi-year contract extension, the team announced Sunday.
Williams is getting a nice payday – a three-year, $24 million deal after the Thunder declined his $2.1 million team option for next season, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
The young big man’s agents, Marcus Monk and Sean Kennedy of Excel Sports, negotiated a deal that includes $15.4 million in guaranteed money.
Talk about a birthday present! Williams, who turned 23 on Sunday, will earn about $7.4 million next season and $8 million in 2026-27. The Thunder also have an $8.59 million team option for 2027-28.
Since joining the NBA, Williams has averaged 5.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 165 games. He’s been a reliable shooter, hitting 39% from beyond the arc.
The Thunder selected Williams 34th overall in the 2022 draft out of Arkansas. He stepped up big time in his rookie year, starting 36 games after Chet Holmgren’s season-ending foot injury.
This past season was Williams’ best yet. He put up 5.9 points per game while grabbing a career-high 5.6 rebounds and dishing 2.6 assists.
He showed flashes of brilliance when given the opportunity to start. In just nine starts, Williams recorded three triple-doubles.
That’s pretty rare company. He became only the fifth Thunder player ever to record multiple triple-doubles in a single season.
Thunder’s Future Salary Considerations
The Thunder have some big decisions coming up with their core players.
MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, center Isaiah Hartenstein, and defensive specialist Lu Dort could all hit free agency in 2027. Meanwhile, Holmgren could become a restricted free agent in 2026.
SGA is currently in the middle of a five-year, $179.3 million deal that runs through 2026-27. His contract includes a nice bonus – a 30% escalator clause that turned his guaranteed $172 million into $207 million after making an All-NBA team.
But the really big money might be coming soon.
NBA insider Marc Stein reported in February that Gilgeous-Alexander is now eligible for a four-year supermax extension that could include the first $80 million single-season salary in NBA history for the 2030-31 season.
ESPN’s Bobby Marks notes that while SGA met the supermax criteria last year, he didn’t have enough service time to sign it. Now he’s eligible for a massive four-year, $293 million extension.
The NBA free agency period kicks off June 30 at 6 p.m. ET.
