The Oklahoma City Thunder are locking in another piece of their championship core. The team has agreed to a five-year rookie max extension with center Chet Holmgren worth up to $250 million. The deal, reported first by ESPN’s Shams Charania, is fully guaranteed and includes no player or team options.
Holmgren’s extension will begin after the 2025–26 season, the final year of his rookie contract. It comes just over a week after the Thunder finalized a four-year, $285 million supermax extension with NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Jalen Williams, who is also eligible for an extension this offseason, faces gaining momentum toward his own contract extension. He is eligible to sign a five-year, $246 million contract.
From Injury Setback to Franchise Pillar
Holmgren, 23, was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft but missed his entire rookie year with a foot injury. He bounced back in 2023–24 to average 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 37 percent from 3-point range, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting.
This past season, despite missing time with a pelvic injury, Holmgren averaged 15.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.2 blocks per game, again shooting efficiently from beyond the arc at 37.9 percent.
He elevated his play during the Thunder’s title run, starting all 23 playoff games and posting averages of 15.2 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. In Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Holmgren set a new record with five blocks—the most ever in a Finals Game 7.
His combination of rim protection, mobility and shooting has made him a foundational piece for a Thunder team that now expects to contend for titles well into the next decade.
Gilgeous-Alexander: “He’s Going to Continue to Make Strides”
Gilgeous-Alexander, who is at the center of the Thunder’s rise to becoming NBA champions, has been quick to praise Holmgren’s growth.
“He’s a world of a better player,” Gilgeous-Alexander said in May. “Smarter, more physical, the game’s slowing down for him; everything I’ve expected out of Chet. The talent alone has always been there, but the work ethic is what makes him who he is. There are very few that work more than Chet, if any.”
During the Finals, Gilgeous-Alexander again credited Holmgren’s maturity and competitiveness.
“The special thing about Chet is nobody said anything to him,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “He’s such a competitor, and he gets lost in the competition… His intentions, the intangible qualities he possesses, and his skill set—those unique things he brings to the court—will shine through as long as he maintains that positive mindset.”
Thunder’s Core Ready for the Long Haul
With Holmgren now signed through the 2030–31 season and Gilgeous-Alexander under contract through 2029, Oklahoma City has solidified the foundation of its roster.
Head coach Mark Daigneault spoke during the Finals about Holmgren and Williams stepping into rare roles for players early in their careers.
“He and Dub specifically, obviously, they’ve carved out huge roles on our team,” Daigneault said. “They’re a huge reason why we’re here. They’re in an uncommon position for third-year players. Usually, delivering in the Finals is not on the curriculum… but they’ve thrust themselves into that situation, which is a credit to them.”
Oklahoma City enters the offseason with its young core in place and a deep reserve of draft picks still to spend. With Holmgren now locked in long term, the Thunder appear built to sustain their rise for years to come.
