Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be back with the OKC Thunder for the 2021-22 season

(Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Oklahoma City is bringing back their centerpiece player for at least one more season.

After Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit a game-winning shot for the OKC Thunder on Saturday night to beat the Charlotte Hornets 109-107, the former Kentucky Wildcat point guard had the fourth year of his rookie contract exercised by the Thunder franchise on Sunday afternoon. SGA is currently in his third NBA season and his second with OKC.

Thunder Exercises Options on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Darius Bazley and Ty Jerome

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— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) December 27, 2020

It was a relatively easy decision for OKC to exercise Gilgeous-Alexander’s option. After trading away Chris Paul over the offseason, collecting even more draft assets in the process, and bringing in 35-year old rookie head coach Mark Daigneault to run the show, the Thunder are the lone Western Conference team that don’t appear to have immediate postseason aspirations. While they rebuild, it’s become clear that SGA is one of the centerpieces of the future plans, and OKC keeping him on his rookie contract for one more season before negotiating a long term deal is a no-brainer.

During the Thunder’s season-opener on Saturday against the Hornets, SGA posted 24 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists on an 8-20 shooting clip in 34 minutes. The 22-year old has already played 153 games, starting 144 of them, in just two NBA seasons, making the All-Rookie Team in 2018-19 and playing for the World Team in 2019 and 2020 during the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend.

The Toronto native started all 70 games he played in for OKC in 2019-20, as the Thunder were a surprise playoff team thanks to the help of his impressive play. According to Spotrac, Gilgeous-Alexander will make just a hair under $5.5 million for the 2021-22 season.