Ex-Alabama Guard Secures Two-Way Contract with Reigning NBA Champion Team

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Ex-Alabama Guard Secures Two-Way Contract with Reigning NBA Champion Team

Former Alabama guard Chris Youngblood has signed a two-way contract with the Oklahoma City Thunder, as announced by the NBA team on Saturday. This contract allows Youngblood to participate in up to 50 games with the Thunder while also playing for their G League affiliate, the Oklahoma City Blue.

Understanding Two-Way Contracts

A two-way contract enables players to move between the NBA and the G League without requiring waivers. Each NBA team can have a maximum of three players on these contracts. The compensation for two-way players is typically half of the minimum NBA salary. For the 2025-26 season, this amount is $420,000.

Youngblood’s College Career

Prior to joining the Thunder, Youngblood played one season at Alabama after spending three years at Kennesaw State and a year at South Florida. He was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season, averaging 10.3 points and 2.3 rebounds across 28 games. During this period, Alabama made a notable run to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament.

Performance in Summer League

Following the 2025 NBA Draft, which saw Youngblood go undrafted, he showcased his talent at the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas. In five games, he averaged 12.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 steals. His performance also included a stint at the Salt Lake City Summer League, where he contributed 8.7 points and 2.3 rebounds over three games.

Preseason Highlights

In four preseason games for the Thunder, Youngblood improved his scoring average to 14.5 points per game, alongside 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists. He demonstrated impressive shooting, hitting 44.4 percent of his 3-point attempts during this period.

Upcoming Season for the Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning champions of the 2024-25 NBA season, are set to begin their 2025-26 campaign against the Houston Rockets. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CDT on Tuesday at Paycor City in Oklahoma City.