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Ranking the 2025 NBA rookie extensions
Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara, left, and guard Shaedon Sharpe. Jaime Valdez-Imagn Images

Ranking the 2025 NBA rookie extensions

All NBA rookie extensions for players drafted in 2022 had to be completed by the Monday before the start of the 2025-26 season. Five more got done in the final days, plus another two for draftees from 2020 and 2023.

Here's our ranking of the best of the rookie extensions signed this offseason:

1. Toumani Camara, Portland Trail Blazers | Four years, $82M

The Blazers extended their All-Defensive forward through the 2029-30 season at a bargain price. Toumani Camara is a big, athletic defender who shot 37.6% on 4.6 threes per game, the definition of the prized three-and-D archetype. Now Portland has a starter locked in for a salary near the mid-level exception.

2. Jabari Smith, Jr., Houston Rockets | Five years, $122M

Has Jabari Smith fulfilled the promise of his No. 3 draft selection in 2022? Not yet, but 12.2 PPG, 1.2 blocks and 1.7 three-pointers per game (35.4%) is pretty good for a 21-year-old, 6-foot-11 forward. Smith is already valuable. If his shooting ramps up, he could be a real steal.

3. Shaedon Sharpe, Portland Trail Blazers | Four years, $90M

Shaedon Sharpe averaged 18.5 PPG as a 21-year-old last season. By comparison, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 19 PPG at the same age. While Sharpe was benched briefly for his poor defense, he bounced back to be one of the Blazers' most trusted players. $22.5M per season for a player with talent to become an All-Star is a great deal.

4. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder | Five years, $240M

Jalen Williams made the All-NBA team, the All-Defensive team and his first All-Star team before negotiating this maximum extension. Williams could not have been in a better bargaining position, especially after dropping 40 in a Finals game. His deal could rise to $287M if he makes All-NBA again — last year's appearance doesn't count.

5. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic | Five years, $240M

Paolo Banchero (25.9 PPG) has absolutely earned a maximum contract after three excellent seasons to start his career, even with last year's injury. The downside of this deal is that Orlando agreed to a player option, which makes Banchero a free agent a year earlier.

6. Keegan Murray, Sacramento Kings | Five years, $140M

Keegan Murray isn't a star, but he's the kind of player every team covets. He can effectively guard positions 1 through 4, his rebounding has improved every season and he set a record for three-pointers made by a rookie two seasons ago. If he hadn't signed with the Kings, Murray would have many suitors next summer.

7. Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder | Five years, $240M

Chet Holmgren is an NBA champion at age 23. He blocked 2.2 shots per game and went 37.9% from three-point range, a unique combination of rim protection and outside shooting. The risk? Holmgren has missed one full season and 50 games of another. It's easy to see Holmgren becoming a perennial All-Star — or perennially injured.

8. AJ Green, Milwaukee Bucks | Four years, $45M

Undrafted AJ Green worked his way into a big role with the Bucks. He played 22.7 minutes per game and made 2.1 threes per game, shooting 42.7%. There's always going to be a place in the NBA for a shooter this good.

9. Dyson Daniels, Atlanta Hawks | Four years, $100M

Dyson Daniels led the NBA in steals by a massive amount and is big enough to guard small forwards. He won Most Improved Player and was first-team All-Defensive, but his poor shooting is worrisome — but improving! His deal is for $25M each season, so he'll be more expensive now, and cheaper later. 

10. Nikola Jovic, Miami Heat | Four years, $62.4M

Nikola Jovic can defend and make three-pointers (37%) but he played on 46 games each of the last two seasons. This is inexpensive, but why did the Heat need to lock in a power forward averaging 3.9 rebounds through 2030?

11. Christian Braun, Denver Nuggets | Five years, $125M

It's not that Christian Braun is a bad player, but he's a shooting guard who doesn't shoot from the outside — only 1.2 threes per game last season. He's good, but not unique, and this was a huge overpay. The Nuggets need his defense and love his game, but no one was making a massive restricted free agent offer for Braun next summer.

Sean Keane

Sean Keane is a sportswriter and a comedian based in Oakland, California, with experience covering the NBA, MLB, NFL and Ice Cube’s three-on-three basketball league, The Big 3. He’s written for Comedy Central’s “Another Period,” ESPN the Magazine, and Audible. com

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