A week after an NBA championship, the Oklahoma City Thunder have smashed open a championship window that won’t close for a while. They have reportedly signed Jalen Williams to a five-year, $287 million contract extension, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.
After his third season, Williams was eligible for an extension. His rookie deal expires after next season with a $6.6 million salary. He was the No. 12 pick of the 2022 NBA draft. The 24-year-old has ascended into one of the NBA’s best players and proved to be a good enough second option for a title winner.
Williams averaged 21.6 points on 48.4% shooting, 5.3 rebounds and 5.1 assists this past season. He earned his first All-Star and All-NBA nods. The Thunder went on to have one of the greatest seasons ever with a historic 68-14 record and a Larry O’Brien trophy.
The Thunder have locked down their trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams and Chet Holmgren to long-term deals this summer. Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 supermax extension earlier this offseason. Holmgren recently signed a five-year, $250 million extension. Expect OKC to be in the title conversation for the foreseeable future.
