Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Signs Richest Annual Contract in NBA History

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has signed the richest annual contract in NBA history.

Shai and the Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a super-maximum four-year, $285 million contract extension through the 2030-31 season, Shams Charania reported on Tuesday.

The deal comes after Shai led OKC to the Larry O'Brien Trophy in the 2024-24 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. In addition to the NBA Finals trophy, Shai was awarded the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy for his heroic efforts through the final seven-game series. Shai was also named the Western Conference Finals MVP, league MVP, and won the scoring title for the 2024-25 season.

This new contract extension is Shai's second with OKC since joining the team in 2019, further establishing the trust both sides have in one another. It's also a move that was warranted, given Shai's output with the Thunder.

Shai has been the face of the team and went through a pair of abysmal seasons, during which the Thunder only won 22 and 24 games before turning the ship around in each of the past three years. Take a look at a breakdown of Shai's new contract extension and how it compares to the other highest-paid players annually in the league below.

How much will Shai be making annually with his new NBA contract?

Shai's contract extension is for $285 million over four years and will commence in the 2027-28 season, allowing him to play out the remaining two years of his current deal, which is worth $79.1 million. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Shai's annual salary will increase from over $63.5 million in the first year to over $78.7 million in its final season in the 2030-31 campaign.

How long has Shai played for OKC?

Shai was traded to the Thunder in July 2019 after his rookie season and became the face of a team that was rebuilding. In 2021, Shai signed a five-year, $172 million rookie extension and continued improving his game. He became an All-Star for the first time in the 2022-23 season and was named to his first All-NBA First Team. Things got even better in the 2023-24 season as Shai was named a starter for the All-Star game and finished in second place for league MVP and was once again selected to the All-NBA First Team.

Who are the highest paid NBA players?

With Shai's new contract, he joins an elite club of the highest-paid players in NBA history. Shai is now in first place on the list of the highest-paid players annually, and it's by a large margin. In second place is Steph Curry, who is making $55,761,216 a year with the Golden State Warriors, and Joel Embiid comes in at third with $51,415,938 with the Sixers. Nikola Jokic is in fourth with the Denver Nuggets, paying him $51,415,938 a year, and Bradley Beal is fifth with $50,203,930 annually with the Phoenix Suns.