Even after officially wrapping up his historic 2024-25 NBA season, OKC Thunder cornerstone Shai Gilgeous-Alexander still finds himself resetting the league's record books during these early stages of the offseason.
On day two of this summer's free agency period, the superstar agreed to a four-year, $285 million super max contract extension that will keep him in Oklahoma City through the 2030-31 campaign.
Though roughly $8 million shy of the previously projected max ($293.4), and a whopping $95 million less than what he could have earned had he waited to re-up next summer, Gilgeous-Alexander has still set the record for the richest annual salary for a player in NBA history at $71.25 million.
Unsurprisingly, his teammates are already sounding off with excitement about his new lucrative payday.
Thunder teammates sharing reactions to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deal
Aaron Wiggins dropped a story on Instagram with the ESPN report of the Gilgeous-Alexander signing, accompanied by several sobbing emojis.
Isaiah Joe simply wrote "Sheesh" in response to the high-end price tag.
Jaylin Williams, who just recently received a new contract with the Thunder himself, jokingly noted on his personal Instagram account that "dinner still on you 2."
Not only did Gilgeous-Alexander just sign one of the largest contract extensions with the highest annual salary the league has ever seen, but most importantly, he deserves every penny of the new contract.
Last season was truly one for the ages for the 26-year-old.
Not only did he become just the fourth player to average 32+ points, 5+ rebounds, 5+ assists, and win MVP all in the same year, but he joined Shaquille O'Neal, Michael Jordan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (still Lew Alcindor at the time) as the only players to have won an NBA championship, league MVP and scoring title in a single season.
He also literally reset the mark for the shortest time for a player to register their first four 50+ point games (19 games).
Legitimately in the conversation for the best player currently in the sport, it should come as little surprise that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has now signed for the richest per-year salary of all time.
As Brian Windhorst pointed out, the point guard's decision to re-sign with the organization squashes the once widely believed notion that "stars don't want to be in Oklahoma City."
With All-Star Jalen Williams and rising star Chet Holmgren both eligible for new contract extensions themselves this summer, the hope now is that Sam Presti and company can continue to further distance themselves from such a wretched stigma.