Jalen Williams didn't recognize Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault during his pre-draft workout with the team
What went through your mind when Oklahoma City selected you? Jalen Williams: It was cool to be called with Chet (Holmgren) and Ousmane (Dieng). Then they picked up Jaylin Williams. It was a cool and surreal moment. I think it was full circle too because I had a really good workout in Oklahoma. It was a cool vibe going into it. When I was out there, I thought this wouldn’t be a bad place to be. I enjoyed the visit. I talked to Sam (Presti). It was the only place where the coach, Mark Daigneault, ran the whole workout. I’m going through the workout saying, “This guy is pretty good.” I actually had no idea he was the head coach until afterwards (laughs). We had a cool interaction. Mark was talking to me the whole time, and I had no idea who he was. I’m thinking he was a trainer or somebody.
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
Source: Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Josh Giddey said Mark Daigneault really emphasized running to the finish line to the All-Star break and he thought they did that tonight – 11:06 PM
Josh Giddey said Mark Daigneault really emphasized running to the finish line to the All-Star break and he thought they did that tonight – 11:06 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Mark Daigneault: “JWill was great. He was big time.”
Jaylin Williams had a career high 16 rebounds, 8 points, 2 steals and 3 charges (if memory serves) drawn. pic.twitter.com/fwcyin1mpZ – 10:54 PM
Mark Daigneault: “JWill was great. He was big time.”
Jaylin Williams had a career high 16 rebounds, 8 points, 2 steals and 3 charges (if memory serves) drawn. pic.twitter.com/fwcyin1mpZ – 10:54 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Mark Daigneault on Dario Saric: “I thought he was good. Plays the right way.” – 10:49 PM
Mark Daigneault on Dario Saric: “I thought he was good. Plays the right way.” – 10:49 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jalen Williams tonight
13 PTS
4 RBD
2 AST
1 STL
5-7 shooting
1-2 from 3
22 minutes
+30 (game high)
Next: Rising Stars Game on Friday night. – 10:39 PM
Jalen Williams tonight
13 PTS
4 RBD
2 AST
1 STL
5-7 shooting
1-2 from 3
22 minutes
+30 (game high)
Next: Rising Stars Game on Friday night. – 10:39 PM
Royce Young @royceyoung
Sometimes you can lose focus the game before the All-Star break. Didn’t happen for the Thunder, beating Houston 133-96 and leading by as many as 42.
– SGA: 29 + 6 asts
– Dort: 15-3-3
– Jalen Williams: 13
– Giddey: 13 + 6 asts
– Saric: 12 + 5 reb
– Jaylin Williams: 8 + 16 reb – 10:35 PM
Sometimes you can lose focus the game before the All-Star break. Didn’t happen for the Thunder, beating Houston 133-96 and leading by as many as 42.
– SGA: 29 + 6 asts
– Dort: 15-3-3
– Jalen Williams: 13
– Giddey: 13 + 6 asts
– Saric: 12 + 5 reb
– Jaylin Williams: 8 + 16 reb – 10:35 PM
Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Mark Daigneault just got T’d up for passing halfcourt. He just smiled and shook his head. – 8:46 PM
Mark Daigneault just got T’d up for passing halfcourt. He just smiled and shook his head. – 8:46 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Mark Daigneault gets a technical foul for crossing halfcourt – 8:45 PM
Mark Daigneault gets a technical foul for crossing halfcourt – 8:45 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jalen Williams with his nightly poster – this time on alternate timeline Thunder player Alperen Sengun. – 8:18 PM
Jalen Williams with his nightly poster – this time on alternate timeline Thunder player Alperen Sengun. – 8:18 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Alperen Sengun trying to contest a Jalen Williams dunk went about as you’d expect – 8:18 PM
Alperen Sengun trying to contest a Jalen Williams dunk went about as you’d expect – 8:18 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Josh Giddey thanks Thunder fans for helping him, SGA & Jalen Williams get into All-Star weekend pic.twitter.com/UMcte2HyuO – 8:10 PM
Josh Giddey thanks Thunder fans for helping him, SGA & Jalen Williams get into All-Star weekend pic.twitter.com/UMcte2HyuO – 8:10 PM
Adam Wexler @AdamJWexler
#Rockets starters at Thunder: Green, Martin Jr, Sengun, Smith Jr, Tate
Thunder starters: Jaylin Willians, Jalen Williams, Dort, Giddey , Gilgeous-Alexander. – 7:40 PM
#Rockets starters at Thunder: Green, Martin Jr, Sengun, Smith Jr, Tate
Thunder starters: Jaylin Willians, Jalen Williams, Dort, Giddey , Gilgeous-Alexander. – 7:40 PM
Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Poku is at the 7-week mark in his recovery from a left leg fracture
Asked Mark Daigneault for an update: “Nothing specific other than that he’s making progress and is on his return-to-play path. When we have a more firm timetable we’ll let you know.” – 7:37 PM
Poku is at the 7-week mark in his recovery from a left leg fracture
Asked Mark Daigneault for an update: “Nothing specific other than that he’s making progress and is on his return-to-play path. When we have a more firm timetable we’ll let you know.” – 7:37 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Thunder starters:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Lu Dort
Josh Giddey
Jalen Williams
Jaylin Williams – 7:17 PM
Thunder starters:
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Lu Dort
Josh Giddey
Jalen Williams
Jaylin Williams – 7:17 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Mark Daigneault said Poku is still making progress but didn’t provide a specific update on his recovery – 6:23 PM
Mark Daigneault said Poku is still making progress but didn’t provide a specific update on his recovery – 6:23 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Mark Daigneault said sending Ousmane Dieng, Tre Mann and Aaron Wiggins to the OKC Blue was a decision on the ‘context of the schedule’ in terms of the impending All-Star break and could play tonight – 6:21 PM
Mark Daigneault said sending Ousmane Dieng, Tre Mann and Aaron Wiggins to the OKC Blue was a decision on the ‘context of the schedule’ in terms of the impending All-Star break and could play tonight – 6:21 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Jalen Williams taking in some quality college basketball Rock Chalk 🫡 pic.twitter.com/AyvJfizSCA – 12:02 AM
Jalen Williams taking in some quality college basketball Rock Chalk 🫡 pic.twitter.com/AyvJfizSCA – 12:02 AM
Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Five takeaways from the Thunder’s loss to the Pelicans, with more on …
– NOLA’s wire-to-wire win
– How the Thunder set up its final shot
– Jalen Williams’ “bad” defensive night turned good
– JRE’s return
– Thunder tip-ins
oklahoman.com/story/sports/n… – 12:52 AM
Five takeaways from the Thunder’s loss to the Pelicans, with more on …
– NOLA’s wire-to-wire win
– How the Thunder set up its final shot
– Jalen Williams’ “bad” defensive night turned good
– JRE’s return
– Thunder tip-ins
oklahoman.com/story/sports/n… – 12:52 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jalen Williams on not hitting the rookie wall: “Taking care of my body. Just being confident. They put me in a lot of positions early that I’m seeing again. Credit to the coaches. The game is starting to slow down. They’re giving me the green light to just play.” – 11:00 PM
Jalen Williams on not hitting the rookie wall: “Taking care of my body. Just being confident. They put me in a lot of positions early that I’m seeing again. Credit to the coaches. The game is starting to slow down. They’re giving me the green light to just play.” – 11:00 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Jalen Williams said taking care of his body and gaining confidence has helped him hit his stride recently: “The game is also starting to slow down (for me).” – 10:58 PM
Jalen Williams said taking care of his body and gaining confidence has helped him hit his stride recently: “The game is also starting to slow down (for me).” – 10:58 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams not hitting the rookie wall:
“He’s hit an enormous stride, not a wall. He’s been impressive. And he keeps getting better.” – 10:41 PM
Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams not hitting the rookie wall:
“He’s hit an enormous stride, not a wall. He’s been impressive. And he keeps getting better.” – 10:41 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams potential rookie wall “He is hitting more of a stride than a wall.” Said “he has been impressive, he has a consistent approach. Consistent competitor.” Said Jdub is “learning how to be more aggressive…lot of reason for optimism.” – 10:41 PM
Mark Daigneault on Jalen Williams potential rookie wall “He is hitting more of a stride than a wall.” Said “he has been impressive, he has a consistent approach. Consistent competitor.” Said Jdub is “learning how to be more aggressive…lot of reason for optimism.” – 10:41 PM
Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Daigneault on Jalen Williams: “He’s hitting more of a stride than a wall.” – 10:40 PM
Daigneault on Jalen Williams: “He’s hitting more of a stride than a wall.” – 10:40 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
Mark Daigneault said Jalen Williams gave a good spark and thought his defense energized him after a bad start: “What makes him such a good player is the way he defends night in and night out.” – 10:40 PM
Mark Daigneault said Jalen Williams gave a good spark and thought his defense energized him after a bad start: “What makes him such a good player is the way he defends night in and night out.” – 10:40 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jalen Williams tonight
22 points
7 rebounds
4 assists
2 steals
1 block
9-15 shooting
2-3 from 3
+10 in the loss pic.twitter.com/J7NRSVgEmK – 10:38 PM
Jalen Williams tonight
22 points
7 rebounds
4 assists
2 steals
1 block
9-15 shooting
2-3 from 3
+10 in the loss pic.twitter.com/J7NRSVgEmK – 10:38 PM
Royce Young @royceyoung
Weird, physical game with the Pelicans winning 103-100. Isaiah Joe’s rainbow 3 just misses at the buzzer. OKC didn’t play very well but scrapped to have a chance. That was a grind.
– SGA: 24-10-5
– Giddey: 17-7-4
– Jalen Williams: 20-7-4
– Joe: 16 (4-11 from 3) – 10:22 PM
Weird, physical game with the Pelicans winning 103-100. Isaiah Joe’s rainbow 3 just misses at the buzzer. OKC didn’t play very well but scrapped to have a chance. That was a grind.
– SGA: 24-10-5
– Giddey: 17-7-4
– Jalen Williams: 20-7-4
– Joe: 16 (4-11 from 3) – 10:22 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
No Shai, but Jalen Williams does return. Mark Daigneault has stressed the importance of not just going right back to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as soon as things gt rough so he is picking this spot not to, and keep him in his rotation.In Portland he went back to him. – 9:56 PM
No Shai, but Jalen Williams does return. Mark Daigneault has stressed the importance of not just going right back to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander as soon as things gt rough so he is picking this spot not to, and keep him in his rotation.In Portland he went back to him. – 9:56 PM
Royce Young @royceyoung
Giddey steal and save to SGA who kicks ahead to Jalen Williams who goes behind his back to SGA for a dunk. – 9:40 PM
Giddey steal and save to SGA who kicks ahead to Jalen Williams who goes behind his back to SGA for a dunk. – 9:40 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
This place just came unglued. Josh Giddey saves a steal, Jalen Williams runs the break with a behind the back pass to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a slam. OKC down one after being down 20 – 9:39 PM
This place just came unglued. Josh Giddey saves a steal, Jalen Williams runs the break with a behind the back pass to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a slam. OKC down one after being down 20 – 9:39 PM
Joe Mussatto @joe_mussatto
Jalen Williams has been really good tonight. He was fired up after that steal against Alvarado. – 9:00 PM
Jalen Williams has been really good tonight. He was fired up after that steal against Alvarado. – 9:00 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Jalen Williams gonna have to provide the NBA some documentation to prove he’s actually a rookie. – 8:58 PM
Jalen Williams gonna have to provide the NBA some documentation to prove he’s actually a rookie. – 8:58 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Jalen Williams with a James Harden step back. JDub has been awesome tonight. – 8:55 PM
Jalen Williams with a James Harden step back. JDub has been awesome tonight. – 8:55 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
A Jalen Williams 3 is the first non-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander points. OKC down eight. – 8:23 PM
A Jalen Williams 3 is the first non-Shai Gilgeous-Alexander points. OKC down eight. – 8:23 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
#Thunder starters
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Josh Giddey
Lu Dort
Jalen Williams
Jaylin Williams – 7:27 PM
#Thunder starters
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Josh Giddey
Lu Dort
Jalen Williams
Jaylin Williams – 7:27 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
The Thunder rank fifth in the league with 8.29 steals per game
Three players average at least one steal per game: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (1.69), Jalen Williams (1.24), and Lu Dort (1.04)
Jalen Williams leads all rookies in steals – 3:03 PM
The Thunder rank fifth in the league with 8.29 steals per game
Three players average at least one steal per game: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (1.69), Jalen Williams (1.24), and Lu Dort (1.04)
Jalen Williams leads all rookies in steals – 3:03 PM
More on this storyline
What have been your interactions like with Sam Presti and his vision for the team looking ahead? Jalen Williams: He wants us all to come together and go through this process together while learning from it. It’s almost like he was collecting Pokemon cards in a sense that we’re all young and going through this journey together. He wants us to make an arrival like a homecoming into the NBA where we put people on notice. He wants us to get along, play with each other, and understand what we’re all good at. -via HoopsHype / February 16, 2023
Rylan Stiles: Sunday, Thunder player Jalen Williams assisted a local family of six on a shopping spree, in partnership with Homeland. With Williams’s help, the Rodriguez family filled their cart with $500 in groceries and was surprised with an additional $500 Homeland gift card. -via Twitter @Rylan_Stiles / February 12, 2023
Former Chicago Bull Joakim Noah will coach the final team of the NBA’s rookies and sophomores. Evan Mobley (Cavaliers), Josh Giddey (Thunder), Jalen Williams (Thunder), Jeremy Sochan (Spurs), Quentin Grimes (Knicks), Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets) and Jalen Duren (Pistons) will be on Team Joakim. -via deseret.com / February 7, 2023