Trae Young & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Awarded Max Rookie Extensions

Trae Young and SGA get the big bucks

The NBA offseason is officially getting exciting. In addition to free agency, contract extensions are in play. Atlanta’s Trae Young and Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are two of the first players to cash in this summer.

Both young guards signed maximum rookie extensions with their teams. The deals are for 5 years, $172 million. If they are voted onto one of the All-NBA teams, that $172 million can turn into $207 million.

Young’s deal also includes an early termination after the fourth season; Gilgeous-Alexander’s does not.

They deserve it

With Young at 22 years old and Gilgeous-Alexander at 23, these two players are some of the best young talents in the league. Young averaged over 25 points and 9 rebounds last season while unexpectedly leading the Atlanta Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. Gilgeous-Alexander did not make the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference, he still averaged just short of 24 points, 6 assists, and 5 rebounds in 35 games for the Thunder last season.

Fans should look out for DeAndre Ayton and Michael Porter Jr. to be the next to receive big rookie extensions this offseason.

Check out Trae Young’s highlights from last season below.

Written by Andrew “Jetlag” Preisig | IG @ThankYouJetlag | Twitter @ThankYouJetlag