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[Saba Sports News] Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, a rising All-Star candidate for the 2024-25 season, found himself in an unexpected social media spotlight.
Following the Thunder’s third straight win—a 119-109 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans—Williams caught wind of a comment labeling him a “geek and corny” in a fan post on X (formerly Twitter).
The post aimed to highlight perceived flaws in the Thunder, but Williams couldn’t resist replying: “I caught a crazy stray lol.”
Despite the lighthearted nature of his response, Williams’ focus on the court continues to make waves. In Saturday’s game, he showcased his growth, delivering 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 31-point performance.
After the game, Williams was candid about the team’s uneven performance, especially after nearly squandering a 30-point first-half lead.
“We started well, playing hard to start the game,” Williams said. “The second half was bad. The way we’ve started like that in the past, we’ve been able to maintain it the whole game.”
At just 23 years old, Williams continues to remind fans of his potential. Having made a significant leap in his second season, he has become a key complement to Gilgeous-Alexander in the Thunder’s lineup.
Still, Williams acknowledges he’s in the early stages of his development.
“I’m still test-driving a lot of my game,” he said. “Because of early success, a lot of people forget it’s just year three. I’m still figuring out where I fit in the NBA and how to improve my offensive capabilities.”
Williams has been backing up his words with strong numbers, averaging 22.0 points on 51.2% shooting, 39.3% from three-point range, 6.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.
Next, he and the Thunder will face the Dallas Mavericks in an NBA Cup quarterfinal at the Paycom Center, where he’ll look to continue proving why he’s one of the league’s rising stars.