History Made: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 26, Signs Mind-Blowing ₦441 BILLION Super Max—The Highest Contract Ever in NBA

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has secured the richest contract in league history. 

According to ESPN, The Oklahoma City Thunder's star and NBA MVP has agreed to a four-year extension worth a staggering ₦441 billion (equivalent to $285 million), keeping him with the franchise through the 2030-31 season.

 This deal, which now represents the highest annual salary ever for an NBA player, is the culmination of Gilgeous-Alexander’s extraordinary journey to the top of the basketball world.

At just 26 years old, Gilgeous-Alexander has firmly established himself as one of the best players in the league. 

With this contract, the Thunder have signalled their trust and commitment to him, rewarding the 6’6” guard for his spectacular performances. 

Since joining the Thunder in 2019 as part of the Paul George trade from the LA Clippers, Gilgeous-Alexander has become the centrepiece of the team’s rebuild, and now, he is reaping the rewards of his hard work and loyalty.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s recent season was nothing short of historic. 

He was the league’s leading scorer with an average of 32.7 points per game during the regular season, and his performance in the NBA Finals was just as impressive, averaging 30.3 points per game to help the Thunder secure the championship.

In doing so, he joined an elite list of players who have managed the rare feat of winning both the MVP and Finals MVP in the same season: a list that includes the likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Shaquille O’Neal.

Gilgeous-Alexander also became the first player since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000 to win both the scoring title and an NBA championship in the same season.

Alongside Jordan, Abdul-Jabbar, and O’Neal, he is now one of just four players to accomplish the coveted “triple crown” of winning the scoring title, MVP, and an NBA championship in the same year. 

These feats place Gilgeous-Alexander in truly rarefied air and solidify his status as one of the NBA’s brightest stars.

What makes this record-breaking contract even more remarkable is the journey that led to it. 

Acquired by the Thunder in the summer of 2019, Gilgeous-Alexander became the cornerstone of a franchise undergoing a major rebuild.

 While the Thunder endured two tough seasons with just 22 and 24 wins, the team’s faith in Gilgeous-Alexander never wavered.

 Instead, they entrusted him with the task of leading the franchise into a new era, a responsibility he has handled with grace and exceptional skill.

This season, Gilgeous-Alexander's regular-season scoring average of 32.7 points per game was the highest of any player who went on to win the title that season, surpassing Michael Jordan’s 1992-93 season by a mere 0.1 point.

Furthermore, his total of 3,172 points across both the regular season and playoffs was the highest in NBA history since Jordan in that same 1992-93 season.

He also made history with a 72-game streak of scoring 20 or more points—a feat only surpassed by a handful of players in the league's history. 

This extension, combined with his achievements, has made Gilgeous-Alexander one of the most valuable players in the NBA, and the Thunder are now looking to build on their newfound championship glory with him leading the front.