Oklahoma City Thunder Players: Big 3, Salary & Roster

The Oklahoma City Thunder have built a roster that blends young stars and savvy veterans, creating a genuine contender in the Western Conference. This guide breaks down the Big 3, the highest-paid players, the all-time greats, and what the starting five looks like for the 2025-26 season.

2025-26 roster size: 17 players (15 standard + 2 two-way) ·
Highest-paid player (2025-26): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ($35.9 million) ·
Longest-tenured Thunder player: Luguentz Dort (6 seasons) ·
Average roster age: 24.3 years ·
Big 3 (current consensus): Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams

Six quick facts define the Thunder roster in 2025-26.

Who are the Big 3 on the Oklahoma City Thunder?

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: The MVP candidate

• Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 30.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.2 assists in 2024-25 (NBA.com). He is the engine of the offense and a top-3 MVP vote-getter.

Chet Holmgren: The two-way unicorn

• Holmgren put up 17.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game in 2024-25 (ESPN). His rim protection and shooting stretch the floor.

Jalen Williams: The rising star

• Jalen Williams contributed 21.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game in 2024-25 (ESPN). He has developed into a reliable secondary playmaker.

The implication: as long as these three stay healthy, Oklahoma City will be a championship contender for years.

Who is the highest-paid Thunder player?

2025-26 salary cap breakdown

• The Thunder’s cap structure is built around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s max extension, which pays him $35.9 million in 2025-26 (ESPN).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s max contract

• SGA signed a five-year, $179 million max extension in 2021, with annual salaries rising to $35.9M by 2025-26 (CBS Sports).

Other notable salaries

• Luguentz Dort earns $17.5 million per year (RealGM). Chet Holmgren is on his rookie scale at $12.2 million, and Jalen Williams earns $4.6 million on his rookie deal (CBS Sports).

The pattern: the Thunder are paying their star what he’s worth, but the real value comes from cheap young talent around him.

Who is the greatest Thunder player of all time?

Kevin Durant: The franchise cornerstone (2008-2016)

• Durant won 1 MVP, 4 scoring titles, and led the Thunder to the NBA Finals in 2012 (Wikipedia). He remains the franchise’s most decorated player.

Russell Westbrook: Triple-double king (2008-2019)

• Westbrook earned 1 MVP and posted three consecutive triple-double seasons (Wikipedia). He is the all-time leading scorer for the Thunder with 18,859 points.

James Harden: Sixth Man turned MVP (2009-2012)

• Harden won Sixth Man of the Year in 2012 before being traded. He later became an MVP elsewhere (ESPN).

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Building the legacy

• SGA has already earned two All-NBA First Team selections through 2025 (ESPN). If he leads OKC to a title, he could surpass Durant.

Who are the OKC Thunder starting 5 and bench players in 2025-26?

Projected starting five for 2025-26

• PG: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, SG: Cason Wallace, SF: Luguentz Dort, PF: Jalen Williams, C: Chet Holmgren (NBA.com and ESPN). Some projections have Alex Caruso in place of Wallace (ESPN).

Key bench contributors

• The bench features Cason Wallace (if not starting), Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Kenrich Williams, and Ousmane Dieng (CBS Sports).

Roster depth by position

• Guard: SGA, Dort, Wallace, Joe. Forward: J. Williams, Wiggins, K. Williams, Dieng. Center: Holmgren, Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams (RealGM).

What ethnicity is Chet Holmgren?

Holmgren’s family background

• Chet Holmgren is of Swedish, Norwegian, and Polish descent. His father is of Swedish/Norwegian ancestry and his mother is Polish (ESPN).

How ethnicity is reported in NBA contexts

• In media classification, Holmgren is described as Caucasian or white. The NBA does not formally track ethnicity, but player profiles often note heritage (CBS Sports).

The catch: ethnicity labels are imprecise. Holmgren’s multi-European background is less common among NBA players, but it’s not a defining factor in his game.

Who is the OKC Thunder center in 2025-26?

Chet Holmgren as starting center

• Holmgren started at center throughout 2024-25, using his 7-foot-1 frame and shooting to anchor the 5-out offense (ESPN).

Isaiah Hartenstein as backup center

• Hartenstein signed with the Thunder in 2024 as a free agent and provides physical backup minutes (RealGM).

Small-ball options

• Jalen Williams can slide to center in small-ball lineups, giving the Thunder a switchable defensive look (ESPN).

The pattern: Holmgren is the starter, but depth at center allows flexibility. The Thunder rarely get dominated on the glass.

Related reading: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: Height, Nationality & Injury Status · Boston Celtics vs Phoenix Suns Match Player Stats & Box Score

For a deeper look at individual performances, check out the recent Thunder-Spurs game stats from their latest matchup against San Antonio.

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