Fresh off winning the 2024–25 NBA MVP award, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is on the cusp of a financial milestone that could redefine how we talk about NBA contracts.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard, who averaged 32.7 points on 51.9% shooting in a season where OKC won 68 games, is now eligible for one of the largest extensions in NBA history: five years, $380 million. If he signs that deal in the 2026 offseason, it would put his annual salary at $76 million, or roughly $930,000 per game.
As ESPN’s Bobby Marks pointed out, Gilgeous-Alexander had already met the All-NBA criteria for the supermax last year, but due to being short on years of service, he couldn’t sign it.
"Shai Gilgeous-Alexander met the super max criteria (All-NBA in 2 out of 3 years) last offseason but was ineligible to sign because he was short of the years of service criteria. He is eligible this offseason to sign a four-year $293M extension with OKC."
"Because he won MVP (and this would have applied to being named All-NBA this year), SGA is now eligible to sign a five-year $380M extension but would have to wait until the 2026 offseason."
Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated underscored the historical nature of this potential payday by stating, "$76 million per year... The million dollar per game salary is coming."
That prediction might come true sooner rather than later. With Shai likely to sign a deal that pays him $76 million annually, we’re now just one more salary cap spike away from seeing someone like Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, or Giannis Antetokounmpo cross the $1 million-per-game threshold.
While those figures are eye-popping, they reflect the new economics of the NBA. With media rights expected to soar past $75 billion in the next deal, star players are about to be compensated at an unprecedented level, and Shai is now at the forefront.
His meteoric rise, from a promising rookie with the Clippers to the best player on a 68-win Thunder team, makes him a fitting face for this era of financial and competitive dominance.
Gilgeous-Alexander’s blend of scoring, composure, and efficiency has made him arguably the most unguardable player in the league. In 76 games, the 26-year-old averaged 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 2.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game, while shooting 51.9% from the field, 35.1% from three, and 89.8% from the free-throw line.
He led the league in total points, 30-point games (52), 40-point games (12), and even had multiple 50-point outbursts. He also topped the NBA in plus-minus and win shares, driving the Thunder to the best record in the league.
At only 26 years old, he has already solidified himself as the franchise cornerstone and the best shooting guard in the world.
While the dollar figure may spark debates about player salaries, Shai’s performance has validated every penny. If he ends the postseason with a Finals MVP to go with his regular-season MVP, his $380 million extension might not just be deserved, it might look like a bargain.
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