Cason Wallace on his $139 million extension: ‘I can just relax now’ before the Spurs rematch

Cason Wallace went into the final days before the rookie extension deadline without a new contract. On Tuesday, two days after agreeing to a five-year, $139 million extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he said the biggest change is that he can stop thinking about it.

“It felt great. Just excited to get that deal done and be in this organization for years to come,” Wallace said after the Thunder’s shootaround in San Antonio, hours before the season opener against the Spurs. “I’m excited to get back on the court today.”

Asked how much of a relief it was to have the deal done before the season, he admitted the talks had weighed on him. “It’s huge, just knowing that I can just relax now,” he said. Wallace said he was “tight a little bit during the process,” and that having it finished was “a breath of fresh air.”

The video above was posted by Thunder beat writer Justin Martinez.

Same mindset, bigger job

The money comes with a bigger role. Oklahoma City traded Lu Dort, its longtime starting wing and one of the league’s best perimeter defenders, to Atlanta this summer, and Wallace is expected to take that spot next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren. General manager Sam Presti said before training camp that the trade itself was a message. “I think the greatest sign of respect we could have shown Cason is moving Lu in that trade,” Presti said. “It’s a bit of a gesture to him to say, ‘We think you can have a great role on this team. We believe in you as a player.'”

Wallace said none of that changes how he goes about his work. “It doesn’t change. I’ve always been somebody that steps up to the challenges,” he said, calling the bigger role just another challenge to meet.

He has already earned it on defense. The No. 10 pick in 2023 started 58 of his 77 games last season and averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals in 26.6 minutes. His 150 total steals and 4.4 deflections per game both led the NBA, and he made the All-Defensive second team for the first time. He has played in all 48 of Oklahoma City’s playoff games since he was drafted, including the 2025 title run.

The new deal does not kick in until next season. Wallace plays this year on the final season of his rookie contract, at about $7.42 million, and the extension starts in 2027-28.

No Lambos for the Williamses

Not every teammate kept the celebration simple. Jaylin Williams suggested that Wallace buy matching Lamborghinis for him and Kenrich Williams. Wallace was not worried about it. “They don’t even like Lambos for real,” he said, “so I’m not really worried about them.”

Back against the Spurs

The schedule put the Thunder right back in front of the team that ended their season. The San Antonio Spurs beat Oklahoma City in seven games in last season’s Western Conference finals, winning Game 7 111-103 in Oklahoma City. The Thunder played that game without Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. Williams was managing a strained left hamstring and Mitchell had a strained right calf.

Wallace kept his answer about the rematch short. “We faced them a lot last year, so just coming in here with a mindset, ready to win, compete together for a whole 48-minute game,” he said. Asked if there was extra juice in opening against the Spurs, he said: “We’re gonna come out and compete. First game of the season, we’re ready to go.”

He said having Williams and Mitchell healthy again gives the Thunder “two more competitors out there with us.” Asked whether the Thunder had planned for changes to the Spurs’ starting lineup from last season, he said the approach stays the same. “Our main principles are the same,” Wallace said. “Go out there, compete, a whole 48-minute game, go out there and do whatever it takes to win.”

A message for home

Wallace grew up in the Dallas area and starred at Richardson High School, where he was the Texas Gatorade Player of the Year in 2022 before a season at Kentucky. Asked what he wanted young players in the community he came from to take from his new contract, he kept it simple. “Anybody can do it,” he said. “Keep your head up, grind and don’t be denied.”

The Thunder and Spurs tip off in San Antonio at 9:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, which is 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in Cairo. Oklahoma City’s home opener is Thursday against Denver.