NBA Stars Sign Record $285M, $240M Contracts

The Memphis Grizzlies have been active in the NBA offseason, notably signing star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. to a five-year, $240 million contract extension. However, Jackson sustained a turf toe injury during an off-site basketball session shortly after signing, requiring surgery with no current timeline for his return, though a full recovery is expected. Jackson, a two-time All-Star and 2023 Defensive Player of the Year, averaged 22.2 points per game last season. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander agreed to a four-year, $285 million contract extension, marking the highest per-year salary in NBA history. Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to an NBA championship, earning both the regular season and Finals MVP awards, and is contracted through 2031. Both players are central figures for their franchises, with Memphis also making other moves including trading Desmond Bane and signing guard Ty Jerome.