Shai Gilgeous-Alexander signs $172 million extension with Thunder

(Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just got paid. Big time.

After weeks of speculation hinting at a max extension, the inevitable came to fruition late Monday evening, with the former Kentucky star officially agreeing to terms on a five-year, $172 million maximum rookie extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski was the first to break the news right before the clock struck midnight.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has agreed to a five-year, $172 million maximum rookie contract extension, his agent Thaddeus Foucher of @Wasserman tells ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 3, 2021

According to Wojnarowski, Gilgeous-Alexander’s contract includes a 30 percent escalator clause that would turn his guaranteed $172 million salary into a $207 million deal should he be voted onto one of the three All-NBA teams. Two. Hundred. Million.

For those keeping track at home, this is the eighth player of the John Calipari era to receive a max contract and the 11th Kentucky player with over $100 million in current or projected career earnings including signed deals.

Don’t believe me? Check out the list:

• John Wall – max contract, $229,137,948 career earnings
• Anthony Davis – max contract, $188,027,594 career earnings
• Eric Bledsoe – $108,627,507 career earnings
• Rajon Rondo – $108,277,250 in career earnings
• Enes Kanter – $103,648,844 in career earnings
• Karl-Anthony Towns – max contract
• Devin Booker – max contract
• Jamal Murray – max contract
• De’Aaron Fox – max contract
• Bam Adebayo – max contract
• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – max contract

And that’s not even counting DeMarcus Cousins ($92,535,341 career earnings), who was projected to receive a max contract of his own prior to injury.

Max Contract U.

Taking over as Oklahoma City’s starting point in 2020-21, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged a career-high 23.7 points on 50.8% from the floor, 41.8% from 3 and 80.8% from the free throw line to go with 5.9 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. Now, the former Kentucky standout is officially a max contract player in the league.

Next stop? The All-NBA team to hit that $207 million mark.