SGA gives up 100 million contract renewal of Thunder! The 27-year-old super giant s choice hides the ambitions of the dynasty

The news of the NBA free market explosion in the past two days can be said to be endless. For the defending champion, the Thunder renewed their contract with SGA for four years (78 million in the last year), directly making him the first player in the league to have an annual salary of over 75 million. But what is even more shocking is that SGA took the initiative to give up the 5-year maximum salary of 380 million that he could sign next summer, and threw nearly 100 million in vain. At first glance, this operation seems to be "not enough money", but after careful consideration, it is all "Dynasty Password".

1. Is SGA worth 78 million? His season performance makes people shut up

first show the data: in the 24-25 season, SGA averaged 32.7 points (scoring champion), 5 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 1 attacking percentage, 51.9%; in 23 games in the playoffs, averaging 29.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists, and unvoted FMVP + Western Conference Finals MVP. He won the scoring champion, MVP, championship, Western Conference Final MVP, and FMVP in a single season. In NBA history, he, Jordan, Jabbar and O'Neal can do it - at the age of 26, he is already on the legendary track. Is 78 million expensive for such performance? Not expensive at all. You should know that he scored 29 points and 12 assists in the finals, and directly carried the Thunder to win the championship; he broke through 20.4 times per game (first in the league), was violated 6.6 times (first in the league), and averaged 9.4 free throws per game (third in the league). Those who say he "relying on the referee" look at the data: he breaks twice as many free throws as Halliburton, and it's not unreasonable to have too many free throws.

2. What is SGA betting on giving up 100 million? Why does Thunder's "Salary Secret Battle"

SGA don't want 380 million yuan and sign 285 million yuan? The answer is hidden in Thunder’s salary chart.

Next summer, the Thunder will face the maximum salary renewal of Chett and Jaylen Williams - Chett is the answer to the next 5th position, and Jaylen Williams is the undisputed second leader (averages 21.4 points with injuries in the playoffs). If both of these two get the maximum salary, Thunder salary will explode. SGA's early contract renewal is equivalent to saving the team about 5 million space every year, leaving enough flexibility for Chet and Jaylen Williams' contract renewal.

To put it bluntly, the 100 million SGA was not for nothing, but for Thunder's "future investment". What he bet is: to use his salary cuts to exchange for Chett and Jaylen Williams' long stay, plus the rookie bonus (Sauber of the No. 15th pick this year is a 206cm blue-collar center, suitable for Thunder Culture), the Thunder can maintain its competitiveness in the championship in the next five years.

3. The Thunder's "zero tax dynasty" subverts the league's perception, and even more ruthlessly, the Thunder won the championship with zero luxury tax last season - this is the sixth team in NBA history and the first team in the past 10 years. They are not relying on spending money, but on Presti's talent vision, young lineup (the average core age is 24 years old), and the "mad dog-like" fighting culture of the whole team.

You see them "Baring and celebrating" after the game, holding up shouts for each MVP, and taking photos with their opponents after the game - how is this a professional team? It's like the purity of a college team. Jaylen Williams tore his right wrist ligament in the playoffs, averaged 35 minutes per game, and scored 40 points in the finals; SGA gave up 100 million, Jaylen Williams and Chett are likely to cut salaries - this kind of locker room culture that "wins at any cost" is the Thunder's most valuable asset.

4. Hidden dangers: path dependence? The opponent is changing, and the Thunder must change

, but the Thunder is not without hidden dangers. Their team building idea is "fighting backcourt life defense + superstar singles", but now the Rockets and Nuggets are making up for the big center and pursuing body shape advantages. If Thunder fights to the death, "extreme mobility" and does not make up for the flanking body shape, it may be targeted in the future.

Just like the Warriors' passing and small defenders that year, their performance has declined now - the Thunder must be wary of "path dependence". Fortunately, they are already taking action: they chose Sauber (206cm blue-collar center) this year, and may replace Haten as the starter in the future; rookie Topich (a big organizational defender) is still observing.

Money does not define the champion, wisdom and sacrifice are the cornerstones of the dynasty

SGA contract renewal is the foundation of the Thunder "Zero Tax Dynasty ". When other teams are locked up by the super luxury tax, the Thunder are lightly put on the battlefield and are subverting the league's traditional gameplay with wisdom (draft), sacrifice (SGA salary cut), and culture (young struggle).

26-year-old SGA gave up 100 million, and bet on an era. And Thunder is proving with actions that the champion does not necessarily rely on spending money, but on a group of people, who love at all costs for the same goal.