Alexander sets a record of 380 million in 5 years! A full analysis of the path to the new NBA king ascends the throne

The 2025 NBA Finals are in full swing, and the performance of Thunder core player Shay Gilgers-Alexander has become the focus of global basketball fans.

The new MVP scored a total of 72 points in the first two games of the finals, shooting an astonishing 54.3% of the field goal percentage, and a record efficiency value. Such an outstanding performance makes him hope to become another player who won both MVP and FMVP in a single season after Jordan and James.

According to analysis by ESPN salary expert Bobby Marks, Alexander is eligible to sign a five-year, $380 million super maximum salary contract with the Thunder in the summer of 2025, which will set a new record in the NBA history. The specific annual salary distribution of this contract is: US$65.5 million in the 2027-28 season, US$70.7 million in the 2028-29 season, US$75.9 million in the 2029-30 season, US$81.2 million in the 2030-31 season, and US$86.5 million in the 2031-32 season. Such amazing figures stem from the new broadcast agreement that the NBA took effect in 2025. This 11-year contract with a total price of $77 billion has made the 2025-26 season salary cap soar to $154.6 million.

The rise of Alexander was not accidental. This season, he led the Thunder to a regular season record of 68 wins, and averaged 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game, and his shooting percentage remained above 50%. In the playoffs, he scored at least 30 points and 5 assists in a single game 11 times, tying the historical record held by Jordan and James. These data fully demonstrate his strength as a new generation leader in the league.

It is worth noting that Alexander's success also reflects the vision of Thunder management. They built a young and promising championship team around Alexander through smart drafts and trades. The Thunder's lineup also includes potential new stars such as Chet Homgren, and the team will be a strong contender for the championship in the next few years. This sustainable team building model is worth learning from by other teams.

In terms of salary structure, the new version of the labor-management agreement has lifted the restriction that each team can only have two super top-paid players, which provides greater flexibility for the Thunder to renew the core lineup in the future. At the same time, the agreement stipulates that the salary cap will increase by no more than 10% per year, avoiding the salary chaos caused by the surge in broadcast contracts in 2016. The adjustment of these rules is conducive to the long-term and healthy development of the alliance. The story of Alexander also inspires young players. From being selected as the 11th pick in 2018 to becoming an MVP candidate now, he has proved with his own efforts that talent and diligence are equally important. As the famous commentator Barkley said: "Alexander's success tells us that in this league, continuous progress is more valuable than temporary explosions. "

As the process of globalization in the NBA accelerates, the influence of international players is increasing day by day. As an outstanding representative of Canadian players, Alexander's success will further promote the development of basketball around the world. At the same time, the in-depth cooperation between the NBA and overseas markets such as China has also brought broader development space to the league.

In this era of alternating between old and new, we can see both veterans like James who are still setting records at the age of 40, and also witness the rise of new generation players such as Alexander. This situation of coexistence of inheritance and innovation is exactly the charm of the NBA. Regardless of whether Alexander can lead the Thunder to the finale, his story has injected new vitality into the league.

For fans, it is fortunate to be able to witness such a possibilities. We look forward to the NBA continuing to maintain this healthy competitive environment in the future and bringing more exciting games and moving stories to basketball enthusiasts around the world. After all, the true meaning of basketball is not only in the outcome, but also in the inspiring struggles.