Following their NBA title, the Oklahoma City Thunder have been hard at work in retaining their core. OKC struck a four-year, $285 million agreement with reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earlier this month, and now it has locked in its star center for the future.
The Thunder are signing Chet Holmgren to a fully guaranteed five-year maximum rookie extension that could reach $250 million, according to ESPN. Holmgren has averaged 16.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in two seasons with Oklahoma City, and blocked a record five shots in the Thunder’s Game 7 NBA Finals victory over the Indiana Pacers.
The former No. 2 overall pick out of Gonzaga missed nearly three months this past season due to a pelvic fracture. In 32 games played, Holmgren averaged 15 points, 2.0 assists, 8.0 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per contest. Injuries have been an unfortunate headline of Holmgren’s young career: he missed his entire first NBA season due to a foot injury and played just 46% of regular-season games in his career. At 23 years old, however, there’s no doubt the future is bright.
Check back as CBS Sports updates this developing story.
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