Jalen Williams and the Oklahoma City Thunder have reached an agreement on a five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could total $287 million, according to agents Bill Duffy and Justin Haynes from WME Basketball.
After becoming the second-youngest team in NBA history to capture a championship, the Thunder have secured long-term commitments from their core trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Williams (24), and Chet Holmgren (23), aiming to contend for titles throughout the decade.
Jalen Williams agreement
Gilgeous-Alexander finalized a four-year, $285 million supermax contract on Tuesday, while Holmgren signed a five-year, $250 million max deal on Wednesday. The total for the three new extensions amounts to $822 million.
Williams sustained a complete tear of the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist on April 9 but played through the injury after missing two weeks in March due to a wrist strain. He shared his experience of competing during the remainder of the season with the severe wrist injury, which was heavily supported with tape, on YouTube. He received treatments, including pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory injections.
He underwent wrist surgery following the Thunder’s championship victory.
Williams, who was selected as the No. 12 overall pick by the Thunder in the 2022 draft, achieved All-NBA and All-Defensive Team accolades during an outstanding third season in Oklahoma City. He had a career-best year, averaging 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists with a shooting percentage of 48.4%.
Standing at 6-foot-6, Williams is regarded as one of the top perimeter defenders in the league, leveraging his over 7-foot wingspan to disrupt passing lanes, thwart drives, and guard the rim. He led the NBA in points permitted per direct isolation among players who defended at least 125 isolations, according to GeniusIQ.
Williams delivered significant performances in crucial moments during OKC’s journey to the franchise’s first NBA title, most notably a 40-point showing in a critical Game 5 of the Finals. He became the third-youngest player to score that many points in a Finals game in the last 50 years, following Magic Johnson in 1980 and Russell Westbrook in 2021. Overall, Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander together scored 1,180 points during the playoffs, ranking fourth in NBA history for the most points by a duo in a single postseason.
In the Finals, Williams escalated his scoring in each of the initial five games, progressing from 17 to 19 to 26 to 27 to 40 points, making him the first player ever to increase his scoring in each of his first five career Finals games while scoring at least 15 points in each contest.
Last season, Williams was one of four players to record at least 1,400 points and 100 steals, joining Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and James Harden.
The Thunder are set to begin their third season of title contention in 2025-26 while remaining below the luxury tax threshold, a result of having a uniquely structured roster centered around three young stars, along with valuable rotation players on long-term contracts to offer depth.
In 2026-27, Oklahoma City is projected to have a payroll of $246 million, which will exceed both the first and second aprons, as reported by ESPN’s Bobby Marks. Nevertheless, unlike other recent high-spending franchises, the Thunder maintains flexibility with $77 million in non-guaranteed deals. Additionally, Oklahoma City possesses numerous draft picks and has organized its contracts in a way that positions them to retain their core roster for the foreseeable future.