The Oklahoma City Thunder certainly emphasized the value part when it comes to reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Less than two weeks removed from leading his Thunder to the franchise’s first NBA title since 1979, the 26-year-old has signed a record four-year, $285 million super-contract extension. The deal gives Gilgeous-Alexander the highest annual salary in league history.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Gilgeous-Alexander told reports following his team’s victory in Game 7 of the NBA Finals after becoming the 10th player to earn MVP and Finals MVP honors in the same season. “So many hours. So many moments. So many emotions. So many nights of disbelief. So many nights of belief. It’s crazy to know that we’re all here, but this group worked for it. This group put in the hours, and we deserve this.”

MVP Receives Well-Deserved Contract Extension

Deserving, in terms of his $285 million contract extension, is an understatement.

Gilgeous-Alexander’s 2024-25 season was one for the ages and has rarely been matched in league history. The 6-foot, 6-inch point guard averaged a league-high 32.7 points during the regular season and 30.3 in the NBA Finals. He became the first player to win a scoring title and NBA championship in the same season since Shaquille O’Neal in 2000. Only four other players have accomplished that feat: Michael Jordan (six times), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Mikan (twice), and Joe Fulks.

Then there’s the NBA triple crown — winning a scoring title, MVP honors, and a championship in the same season. Gilgeous-Alexander is one of only four players to reach that pinnacle, joining the likes of Jordan (four times), O’Neal, and Abdul-Jabbar. Oh, and his 20 or more points scored in 72 straight games this past year is the fourth-longest streak within a season in league history.

‘This Isn’t Just A Win For Me’

“This isn’t just a win for me,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after being named MVP. “This is a win for my family. This is a win for my friends. This is a win for everyone who was in my corner growing up. This is a win for the fans.”

This past year was Gilgeous-Alexander’s sixth in Oklahoma City after beginning his career with the Los Angeles Clippers (he was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft before being sent to Los Angeles. He was acquired by the Thunder following his rookie season in a deal that sent Paul George to the Clippers. Oklahoma City also received a haul of first-round picks, with one resulting in the drafting of Thunder co-star Jalen Williams.

End Of My MVP Rant

Gilgeous-Alexander led this year’s Thunder to a 68-win regular season worth a No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout its run to the title. For team ownership hoping to build on this year’s success, that’s all they needed to consider when drafting up their superstar’s record contract.

“We definitely still have room to grow,” Gilgeous-Alexander said after his team claimed its first title since 1979 when they were the Seattle Supersonics. “That’s the fun part of this. So many of us can still get better. There’s not very many of us on the team that are ‘in our prime’ or even close to it.”