Two-thirds of the Thunder's star championship core are now under contract through 2030-31 season. Chet Holmgren, the #2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was rewarded by Oklahoma City with a maximum, 5-year rookie extension after establishing himself as one of the league's premier bigs in his first two seasons of action.
Holmgren receives the full 25% rookie max allowed, but, unlike 2022 draft classmate Paolo Banchero, was not given a player option or a Rose-rule incentive package to increase his salary down the road (based on the reporting at the time of this writing).
After missing his first season with a Lisfranc injury, and most of his third year with an Iliac wing fracture. But the two-way terror has recovered from both lower body injuries without any alarming concerns or diminished play, returning most recently to help the Thunder win the franchise's first ever title in 2024/25. Chet is awesome, and this signing is a no-brainer for Oklahoma City.
The hit to OKC's cap sheet begins in 2026-27, when Holmgren's estimated salary will jump to $41 million or more. The full contract projects to be worth about $240 million in total. Maintaining a balanced, deep lineup around the massive deals in tow for Holmgren, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and presumably Jalen Williams (also extension eligible this summer), will be GM Sam Presti's long-term challenge.