Fresh off their recent NBA title win, the Oklahoma City Thunder have taken a massive step to secure their future and ensure their success for years to come. Following in the footsteps of his teammates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, Jalen is now the latest Thunder star to make a long-term commitment with a brand-new five-year, $250M rookie max extension.
“After becoming the second-youngest team in NBA history to win a title, the Thunder now have long-term commitments from their Big 3 of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Williams (24) and Chet Holmgren (23) to play together through the rest of the decade as they enter their primes,” wrote Shams Charania on X.
Williams, 24, is only three years into his NBA career, but he’s now set to be one of the league’s highest-paid players with a yearly salary of roughly $57.4 million. It’s on par with superstars like Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokic, and Giannis Antetokounmpo.
The Thunder have come a long way since splitting up Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Slowly but surely, they stockpiled their assets and built a team that has made their mark on history. Starting with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who recently signed a massive new contract), his averages of 32.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game this season were enough for him to win MVP months before capturing the Finals MVP.
There’s also Chet Holmgren, who just agreed to a five-year extension with the Thunder earlier this week, worth potentially $250 million. He didn’t play particularly well in the Finals, but he still showed great promise throughout the regular season with averages of 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game on 49.0% shooting.
Jalen Williams is the third member of the Thunder’s essential core, and locking him up for the next five years should be enough to keep them in the title race for a long time coming. At 6’6″ and 220 pounds, he’s a crafty two-way swingman who can play multiple positions. In 69 games last season, he averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 48.4% shooting.
As the reigning NBA champions, the Thunder are confident that this young core can carry them to a historic level of prosperity in the West. With one title in the books already, and their best players under 30 years old, it’s only a matter of time before Oklahoma City adds another Larry O’Brien trophy to their collection.
With Shai, Holmgren, and now Williams under contract for the foreseeable future, the Thunder have built more than just a championship team; they’ve built a culture, a foundation, and a future. In an era of constant player movement and short-term windows, Oklahoma City is betting on continuity, chemistry, and youth. If these extensions pay off, we may be watching the rise of the NBA’s next great dynasty, one that’s only just getting started.
