The Oklahoma City Thunder have secured a major piece of their championship-winning roster by signing Chet Holmgren to a five-year rookie-maximum contract extension worth up to $250 million, ESPN reported on Wednesday. The fully guaranteed deal solidifies Holmgren’s role as a cornerstone of the franchise’s future following their NBA title run in 2025.
Holmgren, 23, becomes the latest Thunder star to commit long-term, following in the footsteps of NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who recently signed a record-setting four-year, $285.4 million supermax extension. Gilgeous-Alexander’s deal, which runs through 2031, will make him the highest-paid player in NBA history at more than $71 million per season.
At 7-foot-1 (2.16m), Holmgren has shown tremendous impact on both ends of the floor despite injury setbacks. After missing his entire rookie season with a foot injury and being limited to 32 regular-season games in 2024–25 due to a hip issue, Holmgren emerged as a key figure in OKC’s title run. In 23 postseason games, he posted eight double-doubles and displayed elite rim protection and floor spacing, averaging 16.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game for his career so far.
Drafted second overall in 2022, Holmgren entered the league alongside Jalen Williams, the No. 12 pick in the same class. Williams, also a vital part of the Thunder’s rise, is eligible for a rookie supermax extension and is set to earn a $6.6 million base salary in the final year of his current deal. With Williams likely to receive a substantial extension himself, the Thunder are clearly committed to locking down the core that delivered their first title in over a decade.
Holmgren’s rare blend of perimeter shooting and shot-blocking sets him apart. He is just the third player in NBA history to record at least 150 three-pointers and 250 blocks across his first two seasons—a testament to his versatility and modern big-man profile.
With Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren both tied down to long-term deals and Williams likely to follow, Oklahoma City has ensured stability at the top of its roster. The Thunder are not only celebrating a championship but laying the foundation for what could become a dynasty in the making.
