SGA Signs Richest Annual Contract in NBA History

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander just secured the richest annual bag in NBA history after receiving a four-year, $285 million supermax contract confirmed on July 1, 2025.

After leading the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise to its first NBA championship title during the 2024-2025 season, the front office didn’t hesitate to gift their superstar a $71.3 million annual salary, surpassing the $62.8 million deal of Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid.

It was a no-brainer for the Western Conference team after SGA won last season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, Finals MVP plum, while becoming the league’s leading scorer.

His insane numbers propelled the Thunder to the best record in the NBA with a win-loss of 68-14, and capped off the postseason with a Larry O’Brien trophy.

SGA finished the regular season with 32.7 points, 6.4 assists, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game. In the playoffs, where every performance mattered the most, the Canadian stalwart still impressed and racked up 29.9 points, 6.5 assists, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.6 steals from the first round to the NBA Finals.

Caught in a tight spot after the Indiana Pacers dragged them to a winner-take-all Game 7, SGA put OKC on his back and ended the final game of the season with an all-around effort of 29 points, 12 assists, five rebounds, two blocks, and a steal.

His new contract will mark another six years of dominance for the powerhouse squad until 2031, with Jaylen Williams and Chet Holmgren, his co-stars at Oklahoma, are also expected to sign extension contracts in the upcoming weeks.

By total contract value, SGA placed second behind Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics who signed a five-year, $313 million contract extension last July 2024.

SGA’s supermax contract extension became the first major off-season move by the Thunder, with other teams already dropping the hammer with shocking moves including Damian Lillard who was waived by the Milwaukee Bucks.