The Oklahoma City Thunder clearly view Jalen Williams as their number two option moving forward after he got an escalator in his rookie max extension that Chet Holmgren didn’t. Both players are set to make 25 percent of the salary cap in the 2026-27 season, but Williams gets more if he makes All-NBA again. The 6’6 wing was third-team in 2025. His deal rises to 26 percent of the cap if he is selected to the third-team again and increases as high as 30 percent if he makes the first team this season.
The Thunder locked in their three stars after winning the championship. Williams' deal looks like an absolute steal. He is one of the 20 best players in the world and is unlikely to get the full 30 percent he could have received for making third-team All-NBA again. The 24-year-old is worth every penny of the larger max, but saving the money allows the Thunder to significantly improve their roster around him.
Williams is an elite wing with room to grow. The Thunder were not letting him walk out the door, especially after Sam Presti broke up the Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden Big 3. OKC clearly views J-Dub as their number two moving forward.
Thunder’s stance on Jalen Williams is crystal clear
Oklahoma City selected Chet and Ousmane Dieng over Williams in the 2022 NBA Draft. J-Dub was the 12th pick. The Thunder took Holmgren second overall and traded up to get Dieng at 11. They had their eyes on Williams, but it is hilarious to look back at this draft in retrospect.
Chet is a star in his own right. He will win Defensive Player of the Year at some point and is a two-way force. It is easy to see why he went second overall, but Williams just averaged 21.4 points per game during a championship run with an injured wrist. He had surgery after the season, but couldn’t be stopped.
J-Dub was an All-Star and second-team All-Defensive selection, along with making third-team All-NBA in 2025. He is one of the best wings in the league and was just the number two on a championship team. The Thunder rewarded that with a max extension and potential contract escalator. It was a bold move that will make OKC’s roster expensive in a hurry, but it had to be done.
The Oklahoma City Thunder have no plans of losing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, or Chet Holmgren. They started a dynasty in 2025. The Thunder enter this season as the title favorites and could win multiple championships over the next decade. Their young roster has already arrived, but the best is still yet to come.
With their three stars locked in and a mountain of draft capital, Sam Presti has built something special. The Thunder are ready to dominate the apron era. Expect them to churn over the pieces around their stars to keep their spending in check, but it won’t be J-Dub getting dealt. He is a superstar, and OKC has already proven they view him as one.