All NBA players want to have a lengthened career in the league and becoming an All-Star is an indicator that it will happen to them. Oklahoma City Thunder’s undersized power forward Jalen Williams got the honors in his third season but to him, he still did not feel confident about himself after it.
Williams posted great numbers throughout the 2024-25 season as the Thunder’s second best player next to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. However, none is more important than the time he willed OKC to a victory in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers. The series was tied at 2-2 before the final buzzer of that game.
Williams scored 40 points in that game and many thinks it was a career-defining game for him. He has the same thoughts. He points to it as some sort of confidence booster to think that he will be in the league for the long haul.
“The first time I thought that I was going to play in the NBA for a long time was probably Game 5 of the Finals,” he said.
“I haven’t had a moment in the NBA where I felt that way, up until the 40-ball.”
Jalen Williams got secured by OKC
The Thunder won the title, the first in their history, and it would have not been possible without Williams. They are now gearing up for a repeat, and maybe create a dynasty with all their great trade assets.
First step to assure that is to make sure the core will be there for them in the future seasons and so, they awarded him a massive five-year, $287 million contract, a move graded by analysts as A+.
“It’s surreal… it’s wild because it happened really fast, like within the span of three years, my life is completely different,” Williams said about getting the bag.
“But yeah, I mean, it’s cool. I’ve been fortunate enough to retire my parents.”
The re-signing came around a week after the Thunder extended SGA to the tune of a four-year, $285 million deal. They then gave Chet Holmgren $250 million for five yers.
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