Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Trae Young signed max NBA contracts. How do they compare?

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New Thunder guard Josh Giddey

Josh Giddey reflects on his career in Australia, and discusses how he hopes to fit in on the OKC Thunder team.

Paige Dillard, Oklahoman

Two Oklahoma point guards agreed to contract extensions this week that could pay them a combined $344 million, and upwards of $400 million, through 2027. 

The Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hawks star and former Sooner Trae Young both inked five-year deals worth $172 million in base salary — an average of $34.4 million per season. 

Their extensions could both be worth as much as $207 million if Gilgeous-Alexander or Young make an All-NBA team. 

Young and Mavericks guard Luka Doncic will forever be compared as 2018 draftees traded for each other on draft night, but Gilgeous-Alexander has emerged with them as a franchise point guard from that 2018 class. 

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Gilgeous-Alexander was drafted 11th overall by Charlotte, which traded him to the Clippers on draft night. Then came the trade to Oklahoma City after SGA’s rookie season in Los Angeles. 

Young has spent all three of his NBA seasons in Atlanta. He’s fresh off a breakout playoff performance in which he led the upstart Hawks to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

While Young was raised in Norman and Gilgeous-Alexander grew up 2,000 miles northeast in the Toronto suburb of Hamilton, Ontario, both represent the next wave of star point guards with Oklahoma ties — following future hall of famers Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul. 

How do Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Trae Young compare?

Through three seasons, Young has an edge over Gilgeous-Alexander in raw offensive numbers, but Gilgeous-Alexander has the edge in efficiency. 

Young is the better passer. Gilgeous-Alexander is the better rebounder. 

Both love to drive to the hoop. Gilgeous-Alexander led the NBA last season with 25.2 drives per game and Young ranked third with 20.1. The guy in between? Doncic, of course. 

Neither SGA nor Young are known for their defense, but Gilgeous-Alexander (6-foot-6) holds up much better than Young (6-foot-1) on that end. 

Perhaps most important when comparing their numbers is that Young has been the face of the Hawks since June 2018. Gilgeous-Alexander, who trails Young by 1,000 career minutes, has only been “The Guy” for 35 games — all coming last season before he suffered a plantar fascia tear. 

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Starting with scoring, Young has averaged 24.1 points per game in three seasons compared to Gilgeous-Alexander’s 16.3 points. 

It’s worth noting that Young has averaged 2.2 more minutes per game than Gilgeous-Alexander, but Young still has a higher scoring average per 36 minutes.  

Young put up huge numbers right away while Gilgeous-Alexander’s path to stardom has been gradual. 

Last season, Gilgeous-Alexander averaged career highs in both points (23.7) and assists (5.9). Young, for comparison, put up 25.3 points and 9.4 assists — third most in the NBA. Young has averaged 8.9 assists over his first three seasons compared to SGA’s 3.8. 

While Young has a significantly higher usage rate, Gilgeous-Alexander has been historically efficient. 

Gilgeous-Alexander is a career 48% shooter on 12.3 attempts per game. Young has shot 43% on 17.7 attempts. 

Young has more than doubled Gilgeous-Alexander in 3-point attempts, and Young is certainly more famous for his range, but Gilgeous-Alexander has shot 37.3% from deep compared to Young’s 34.3% rate.

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The list of players who have shot better than 50% overall and 40% from 3-point range in a season while recording at least 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game is quite short. 

In the last decade: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Gilgeous-Alexander. 

Young has played in 16 career playoff games, all coming last season, while Gilgeous-Alexander has played in 13 — six in L.A. and seven in OKC. Young’s Hawks have already proven themselves as conference contenders while SGA’s next playoff appearance is years away. 

NBA contract extensions could be agreed to at 11 p.m. Monday, and there wasn’t much haggling to be done with Gilgeous-Alexander or Young. 

The Thunder and Hawks gladly signed their star point guards to the max contracts they earned.