“I get paid millions of dollars to dribble a basketball, it’s hard not to be happy” Jalen Williams said when asked why he’s often seen all happy and smiling on the basketball court. The Oklahoma City Thunder star originated from a humble background, with both his parents being members of the Air Force. However, both he and his brother chose to take an alternate path.

They decided to devote a major part of their lives to basketball—today, that decision has paid off tenfold—with just three years in the NBA, Williams has earned enough to create a comfortable life for himself. While this surge allowed him to indulge in luxuries that remain outside the reach of common folks throughout their lives, do you know just how much the OKC star makes in a year?

What is Jalen Williams’ contract with the OKC Thunder? Is he still on a rookie contract?

Oklahoma City Thunder drafted Jalen Williams as the 12 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. Being a first-round pick, and that too in the mid-stage, allowed him to secure a reasonable contract in the guaranteed category. As a result, Williams signed on under a 4-year, $20.2569 million contract. The entire amount was guaranteed, with an average annual salary of $5.06 million that will last till the 2025–26 season.

Since he is set to earn around $4.78 million of his contract money during the ongoing season, Williams currently stands as the 255 highest-paid player of this season, ranking right between Gradey Dick and Miles McBride. Williams has already made $4.34 million, and around $4.56 million, from his previous seasons. The number will go up during the next season, as Williams will receive the remaining $6.58 million.

However, it remains to be seen whether the franchise will seek to extend the star’s contract. Being the 2 highest average scorer this season, right behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, with his 21.6 points per game, the small forward/shooting guard has already proved his worth. Therefore, OKC would need to have a good reason in hand if they choose to trade him.

Did the OKC Thunder exercise the option on Jalen Williams in 2024?

With Jalen Williams’ contract keeping him with OKC for just another season, the franchise has already begun to show how much the player means to them. A month ago, ESPN reported that the Oklahoma City Thunder exercised their fourth-year contract options on Jalen Williams. Chet Holmgren and Ousmane Dieng were the other recipients. Meanwhile, the team exercised the third-year option on their secondary shooting guard, Cason Wallace.

Which college did Jalen Williams attend? A look into his life before the NBA

Jalen Williams’ rookie contract would not have been possible if he hadn’t created a good impression in college first. After all, his performance in those 3 years helped to determine his draft pick number, his team, and what the next 15-20 years hold for him. The same may be applicable to all walks of life—after achieving memorable stats at Perry High School in Arizona, the small forward/shooting guard committed to Santa Clara, despite having received offers from Hofstra and Nevada as well.

Williams’ level of commitment was apparent from the start, as he played in all 33 games during his freshman year. He created an impression during the first 10 games, allowing him to start in the remaining matchups that year! Williams concluded his freshman season by averaging 7.7 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game. His efforts on the shooting front lagged a bit since he only averaged 2.7-6.2 field goals, 0.9-2.7 three-pointers, and 1.4-1.8 free throws.

Jalen Williams was not present as much during his sophomore season. He played only 18 games and started in 17 of them; however, his averages were better as he made 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. The player’s first career double-double came during the 2021 WCC tournament, where he made 13 points and a career-high 10 rebounds against Pepperdine. Though the team lost the game, the player might remain prominently aware of the memory of the feat.

Williams’ final season with Santa Clara was his best one. Playing and starting in 33 games, he averaged 18 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. While reportedly maintaining his collegiate eligibility, Williams soon declared for the NBA Draft. The decision turned out to be a good one; he became the first Santa Clara player to be drafted since Steve Nash (1996). Furthermore, it also gave him a contract that paid higher in comparison to more than half of the players in his draft class.

Given his continued pace, the only direction Jalen Williams can head now is up. In the next two years, once he signs a bigger contract, his accumulated earnings will only increase, creating a more comfortable life for himself and his loved ones.