Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander Makes NBA History with Record‑Breaking $71.25M Average Annual Salary 🤯💰

 

Oklahoma City, OK – In a monumental moment for both player contracts and the NBA’s financial landscape, reigning MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander has agreed to a four‑year, $285 million super‑max extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, cementing him as the highest‑paid player in league history on an annual basis.

 

According to sources via Shams Charania, the deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $71.25 million—shattering the previous benchmark for annual earnings in the NBA . The structure of the contract ramps up year by year, beginning at approximately $63.5 million in 2027–28 and escalating to over $78 million by the final season, 2030–31 .

 

Gilgeous‑Alexander, 26, has rapidly risen to superstardom. He led the league with a staggering 32.7 points per game last season, also averaging 6.4 assists and 5.0 rebounds, and propelled Oklahoma City to a franchise-record 68 wins before leading them to the 2025 NBA Championship, where he was named Finals MVP . That historic season also earned him his first MVP award, making him the first Canadian player to do so since Steve Nash in 2005–06 .

 

Under the NBA’s Designated Veteran Player Extension (the so‑called “super‑max”), elite talents like Gilgeous‑Alexander can leverage MVP honors, All‑NBA First Team selections, and Finals accolades to unlock broader salary ceilings . With this extension, the Thunder lock in their franchise cornerstone, while SGA secures unparalleled financial reward.

 

Yet strategic considerations loom. Had he waited until summer 2026, he might have qualified for a longer, five‑year deal—potentially worth $379–$381 million . Still, this deal insulates him from injury risk and cements his legacy.

 

As the Thunder look ahead, their superstar is now the richest‑paid player per year in NBA history—a salary milestone befitting a player who has reshaped Oklahoma City’s destiny.