The Oklahoma City Thunder have locked up one of their brightest stars for the long term. According to Shams Charania, Jalen Williams agreed to a five-year maximum rookie extension worth up to $287 million.
Williams’ agents, Bill Duffy and Justin Haynes of WME Basketball, confirmed the agreement to ESPN on Thursday. The extension ensures the Thunder’s championship-winning core of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Williams, and Chet Holmgren remains intact through the rest of the decade.
At just 24 years old, Williams has already established himself as a cornerstone of Oklahoma City’s rebuild and championship aspirations. Drafted 12th overall in 2022, he elevated his game this past season, earning All-NBA honors while helping the franchise capture its first title since 1979.
Williams delivered a standout playoff run despite battling a significant wrist injury. Over 23 postseason games, he averaged 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per contest.
His memorable postseason included a 40-point explosion in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, making him the third-youngest player to score 40 in a Finals game. He followed that performance with consistent scoring and clutch defense to close out the series in seven games.
With this extension, the Thunder now have long-term commitments to their Big 3 — Gilgeous-Alexander (26), Williams (24), and Holmgren (23) — as all three enter their prime years. The trio became the second-youngest team in league history to win an NBA championship, and the organization is betting they can build on that success.
Williams’ current rookie-scale contract, set to expire after the 2025–26 season, will now be replaced by the lucrative extension starting in 2026–27. His deal keeps him under team control through at least the 2030–31 campaign.
