💰 SGA’s $71M-a-Year Gig? Insane—but Kinda Earned

So, I’m scrolling through ESPN earlier today and nearly choked on my coffee—Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander just locked in a four-year, $285 million supermax extension with the Thunder through 2030‑31. That averages out to roughly $71 million per year. Let that sink in—SEVENTY‑ONE MILLION—for the privilege of jumping, sprinting, splashing threes, and occasionally posting up point guards. In your face, stock market bros.

Obviously, this is the largest annual salary in NBA history. A contract that big is practically science fiction in a city like New York, where the rent is nuts.

But hold on—before you reach for the pitchforks, let's break down what Shai did to earn every penny:

🏀 “MVP, Finals MVP, SCORE TITLE… He Did That?”

Man, this wasn’t just a good season—it was galactic:

• Regular Season MVP: Averaged 32.7 points per game, the NBA’s scoring leader.

• Finals MVP: Put up 30.3 PPG in the Finals, guiding OKC to its first title since Seattle‑Sonics days in 1979.

• Championship Win: The Thunder beat the Pacers in a razor-thin 7-game thriller, scripting the second-youngest championship team in recent history.

NBA Trivia Drop 🧠➡️ Shai is now one of only five players in NBA history to win MVP, Finals MVP, a scoring title, and an NBA championship all in the same season. The others? Michael Jordan, Shaq, LeBron, and Larry Bird. That’s not a list — that’s the Mount Rushmore.

🐦 Snarky Tweets the Internet Deserves:

@YoungHorn69: SGA signed for $71 million/year. I tore my ACL playing 2K.

@RealBasketballGuy69:Shai makes $890K per game. I make that in Monopoly after buying Boardwalk.

@JustHere4TheDrama:Shai got MVP, Finals MVP, and a ring — and still has better twists than House of the Dragon. 💀

@OKChillFan89:Clippers watching this like it's the "How to Lose a Franchise Player in 10 Days" sequel.

🌱 “Kids In The Garden: Layup for the Thunder’s Future”

Remember, Shai’s been patient. He arrived in OKC in 2019 amid a rebuild, after the Paul George trade. He watched the team struggle—22-win seasons, roster turnover, draft picks stacking up—all while planting his flag.

Then boom—last season: a 68‑win juggernaut, best record in franchise history. They steamrolled to the Finals, and Shai carried the team on his back.

NBA Trivia Drop 🧠➡️ OKC became just the second team in the last 20 years to win a title with three starters under 25 (Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams, and Shai). The other one? The 2015 Warriors. You might’ve heard of them.

🤯 “$71M-a-Year—That’s $890K a Game!”

Let's do some math: 71 million over an 82-game season is almost $900,000 per game. Hell, some NYU grads don't make that in a lifetime—unless they’re influencers, surgeons, or Taylor Swift.

Shai’s basically being paid $18K per minute of basketball, assuming he plays 35 minutes a night. For context, I once walked away from a work happy hour with a $32 Uber charge and guilt for drinking half the bar’s supply of Miller Lites.

🛡️ “A Culture Shift: Loyalty & Legacy Over Riches”

What's even crazier? He could’ve waited and potentially signed for over $380 million over five years—but he locked in now to help keep the team’s core together.

It wasn’t just about padding his wallet; it was about planting roots in OKC—letting guys like Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams grow together under his leadership.

NBA Trivia Drop 🧠➡️ The Thunder now have three All-NBA caliber players on rookie-scale or friendly contracts—the only title team since 2014 to pull that off.

🏆 Final Verdict: Worth Every Penny

• Sporting Achievement: ✔️ Regular season MVP ✔️ Scoring title ✔️ Finals MVP ✔️ NBA Championship

• Cultural Leadership: ✔️ Rebuilt a franchise ✔️ Opted for team stability over max payout

• Financial Impact: Packed $71 million per year—but protected his prime years

It’s almost surreal—but Shai earned it. He turned a struggling rebuild into a championship team. He didn’t just sign a deal—he cemented a legacy.

TL;DR

Is $71 million per year stupid? Hell yes, on paper. But after what he just did—leading OKC from dumpster fires to dynasty—they're betting big—and I can’t blame them.

So yeah, it’s crazy money. But with Shai, it’s not greed—it’s the payoff for greatness. And as a 31-year-old guy from New York? I say: more power to them.

Now if only I could get paid $890K to pick my fantasy basketball lineup once a week.