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NBA World Reacts to Jalen Williams' Max Extension With Thunder As Second Apron Looms

Oklahoma City will be paying a pretty penny to keep its core together over the coming years.
Michael Kadlick|
Jalen Williams signed a rookie max extension on Thursday.
Jalen Williams signed a rookie max extension on Thursday. | Kyle Terada-Imagn Images

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Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder signed star forward Jalen Williams to a five-year, maximum rookie contract extension on Thursday afternoon that can reach up to $287 million. The deal ties the 24-year-old to the reigning NBA champions through the 2030-31 season.

The move—executed by general manager Sam Presti, the 2025 NBA Executive of the Year—keeps the Thunder's core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Williams together for the foreseeable future. Both SGA and Holmgren agreed to lucrative extensions with the club this offseason as well.

Shelling out bundles of cash, of course, comes with potential salary cap repercussions and—as OKC inches towards the dreaded second apron—fans all had a similar reaction to the move across X (formerly Twitter):

Williams, 24, was named an All-Star in 2025 for the first time in his career and earned both All-NBA Third Team and All-NBA Defensive Second team honors. He averaged 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.

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Mike Kadlick
MICHAEL KADLICK

Mike Kadlick is an NFL writer for Sports Illustrated. He’s also a New England Patriots reporter for CLNS Media, where he hosts the Patriots Daily podcast and covers the beat from Gillette Stadium. Before joining SI, Kadlick worked at WEEI sports radio in Boston. He holds a master’s degree in public relations from Boston University. When Kadlick’s not covering football, he can be found running, spending time with his wife and dog, and enjoying all things pizza.

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