The start of 2022 NBA free agency on Thursday wasn’t all about bringing in new players into the building. Instead, some teams like the Denver Nuggets, the Phoenix Suns, and the Minnesota Timberwolves also used the opportunity to lock their star players to long-term extensions.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Nuggets made good on their word and gave back-to-back NBA MVP Nikola Jokic a five-year, $264 million supermax contract extension. The deal, which includes a 2027-28 player option for $60 million, is the richest in the history of the NBA.
The Suns also entered the supermax territory, giving their All-Star Devin Booker a four-year, $224 million extension. Booker’s new deal will start in the 2024-25 season and puts him on track to earn $295 million in the next six years.
Booker’s college teammate Karl-Anthony Towns received an identical supermax extension from the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also adds four-year, $224 million to his deal and is now under contract through the 2027-28 NBA campaign.
It was a great day for several young stars as well. Memphis Grizzlies’ guard Ja Morant, who won the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2021-22, received a five-year, $193 million designated rookie extension. His deal could reportedly end up being worth around $231 million with incentives.
Zion Williamson, who was the New Orleans Pelicans’ first overall pick in 2019, is reportedly getting the same deal as Morant.
