Chet Holmgren doesn’t draw as much spotlight as Victor Wembanyama, partly because he joined an already solid team with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a likely MVP contender for years. Holmgren wrapped up his rookie season as a close Rookie of the Year runner-up to Wembanyama, delivering an impressive 16.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game while shooting 53% overall and 37% from three-point range. Now, he’s building on that solid start and pushing forward on a path that could make him a regular All-Star along with Shai for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

In the first two weeks, the 7-foot 1 power forward has shown he’s every bit the generational talent people expected from the french phenom. It gives Holmgren the attention he deserves. His all-around efficiency and consistency on both ends of the floor are major reasons why the Thunder are still undefeated. Or they were until a day ago.

Holmgren’s ability to exploit weaker defenders in one-on-one situations adds another shot creator to the OKC, alongside Shai. His 3-point shooting is also a key asset, with his height making his shots nearly impossible to block. Holmgren’s offensive game has expanded beyond just catch-and-shoot, thanks to a slight dip in his 3-point percentage. He’s now showing more versatility, even though his shooting has dropped by four percentage points from last season.

So how much does his services cost the Thunder? He was drafted 2nd overall by the OKC in the 2022 NBA draft. Chet signed a four-year deal with the OKC, totaling $44,889,248. His average salary is $11,222,312 per year. For the 2023–24 season, Chet will earn a base salary of $10,386,000 according to spotrac.com.

Is Chet Holmgren still on a rookie contract? Looking into his 4-year deal with OKC Thunder

Holmgren’s four-year contract details break down as follows: In the 2022–23 season, he earned a base salary of $9,891,240. For the 2023–24 season, his salary increased to $10,386,000. In the 2024–25 season, he is set to make $10,880,640, it carries a cap hit and dead cap value of $10,880,640 each. And by the 2025–26 season, his base salary will rise to $13,731,368. His contract also includes club options for the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons, allowing the team to extend his deal at the predetermined salary. The Thunder exercised the option for the 2024–25 season on October 21, 2023. Over the first two years of his contract, Chet earned a total of $20,277,240. His contract averages an annual salary of $11,222,312.

The hooper’s growing popularity has led to several high-profile endorsement deals that add to his earnings. Nike and Gatorade have teamed up with him, and he has also secured a partnership with Panini, the renowned sports collectibles brand. Ruffles, the potato chip giant, has also joined his roster of sponsors. On top of that, Chet has exclusive deals with Yahoo, LinkTree, Bose, and Topps, reflecting his wide-reaching influence. As his career progresses, major brands will likely want to align themselves with his success, which could significantly boost his overall income.

As of 2024 his net worth is $4 million. But it could rise exponentially. “The NBA, with the collective bargaining agreement that has been done a couple of years back. And you’ve got this media rights deal that has been in negotiations for about a year. It’s just been agreed to … these contracts are absolutely exploding,” said former Gonzaga All-American Dan Dickau. A 22yo earning $20 million is ridiculous, being the 2nd overall pick helps but you also need a good agent. So who is Chet’s agent?

Chet Holmgren’s NBA Agent Bill Duffy who also represents Luka Doncic and Scottie Barnes

Originally a college basketball player, Duffy began at the University of Minnesota, eventually transferring to Santa Clara University. The Denver Nuggets picked him in the fifth round of the 1982 NBA draft as their fourth choice. Duffy went on to establish Walnut Creek’s BDA Sports Management, and later, alongside Rade Filipovich, he co-founded BDA Sports International. Today, BDA represents big names like Yao Ming, Steve Nash, Joakim Noah, Rajon Rondo, and Luka Dončić.

In a buyout announced in March 2023, WME has fully acquired BDA Sports Management, bringing Bill Duffy and his team into WME’s operations. This deal follows WME’s initial investment in BDA in 2020 and now positions Duffy as the head of basketball representation for WME Sports. So can Duffy negotiate Holmgren’s way into earning a billion dollars?

The 11-year deal with Disney, NBC, and Amazon Prime Video, expected to bring the league around $76 billion, will boost the salary cap by 10% annually. This agreement, signed in 2023, will last until the 2029-30 season, after which it will expire. As Dickau pointed out, this deal should have a significant impact on the league’s financial landscape moving forward.

“Chet Holmgren has a chance to make a billion dollars playing the game of basketball,” Dickau said. “Chet’s either gonna be a max [contract] guy or he’s gonna be a tiny step below. So when he’s up for his contract extension at the end of his rookie deal, as long as he hits some of these thresholds: being All-NBA, award winners, all-stars — which I think he’s on track to be an all-star — you know that allows you to take ‘x’ amount of the salary cap and get these different bonuses. I’m very comfortable saying he has a chance to make that type of money.”

Holmgren was a standout for Oklahoma City in the season’s first four games, averaging 22.5 points per game. Even when his outside shots weren’t connecting, he still found ways to contribute. That is by scoring efficiently around the rim and in the mid-range. However, his performance has slowed in the last three games. During that stretch, he has averaged only 10 points per game and hasn’t scored 20 points in any of them. He has also taken more than 10 shots in just one game. Well if he wants to earn that fat check like Dickau says, unlocking his offense will be the key for him.