The Oklahoma City Thunder have secured a significant contract extension with center Chet Holmgren, agreeing to a five-year rookie-max deal that could reach up to $250 million. This substantial agreement is fully guaranteed and follows Oklahoma City’s earlier landmark extension with NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recently signed a four-year deal worth $285.4 million, making him the league’s highest-paid player with an annual salary exceeding $71 million.
Holmgren, standing at 7 feet 1 inch, has shown his capabilities on the court despite facing injury setbacks that limited his appearances to 32 regular-season games. His first season in the league was cut short due to a foot injury, and last season he dealt with a hip injury. Nevertheless, he has established a noteworthy presence with career averages of 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. His performance was pivotal during the Thunder’s championship run in 2025, where he recorded eight double-doubles in 23 playoff games.
Selected second overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren is not only a key asset for the Thunder but also shares the spotlight with teammate Jalen Williams, the 12th overall pick that year, who is also eligible for a rookie supermax extension. Williams is set to enter the final season of his four-year contract, which has a base salary of $6.6 million for 2025-26.
Remarkably, Holmgren is only the third player in NBA history to reach both 150 three-pointers and 250 blocks within his first two seasons, underscoring his potential and skill set.
The Thunder’s strategy emphasizes retaining and investing in young talent, which bodes well for their future competitiveness in the league.