News

Chet Holmgren Agrees To Five-Year Rookie Max Extension With Thunder

Thunder Clinch 1-Seed in the West, Await Play-In Winner Full view CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 27: Chet Holmgren #7 of the Oklahoma City Thunder celebrates after scoring during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 27, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Thunder defeated the Cavaliers 108-105. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Oklahoma City Thunder star and 2025 NBA champion Chet Holmgren has agreed to a fully guaranteed five-year maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $250 million, agent Bill Duffy of WME Basketball said on Wednesday morning.

After missing three months during the season because of a hip injury, Holmgren returned in February and came back stronger to help lead the Thunder and their young core to the NBA title. Holmgren’s deal does not include a player option or team option.

Thunder officials will move toward locking in All-NBA superstar Jalen Williams, who has momentum in his rookie extension talks.

The second-youngest team in NBA history to win a championship, the Thunder have now locked Holmgren and league MVP and Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to long-term maximum contract extensions. On Tuesday, Gilgeous-Alexander signed a four-year, $285 million contract extension through the 2030-31 season.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.

Holmgren is part of a tight-knit Thunder core set to play together and contend for an NBA championship for several years to come.

The No. 2 selection in the 2022 draft, Holmgren suffered the second major injury of his NBA career after he broke his pelvis in early November. He also missed his entire rookie season due to a ligament tear in his right foot.

Holmgren returned from his pelvis injury shortly before the All-Star break in February and finished the season averaging 15 points, eight rebounds and 2.2 blocks while shooting 49% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point range. He went on to play in all 23 games during the Thunder’s title run, and his plus-169 plus-minus was the best mark of any player in the 2025 postseason, according to ESPN Research.

Holmgren is known for elite instincts, winning attributes and is a key part of the Thunder’s historically great defense. He contested 93% of his opponent’s shot attempts as the closest defender, the second-highest rate in the league since the start of last season. He led the NBA in field goal percentage allowed on layups and dunks last season among players to contest 100-plus shots, according to GeniusIQ. He also allowed the lowest field goal percentage (33%) of anyone who defended at least 40 shots in this year’s NBA Finals, per ESPN tracking.