Thunderous Intentions
Fansided

Jalen Williams said Sam Presti coached prospects at OKC Thunder workout

By Rylan Stiles

Jalen Williams #24 of the Santa Clara Broncos celebrates on the court after the team's 91-67 victory over the Portland Pilots during the West Coast Conference basketball tournament quarterfinals at the Orleans Arena early on March 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Jalen Williams #24 of the Santa Clara Broncos celebrates on the court after the team's 91-67 victory over the Portland Pilots during the West Coast Conference basketball tournament quarterfinals at the Orleans Arena early on March 06, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Oklahoma City Thunder are conducting predraft workouts with 2022 NBA Draft prospects ahead of Thursday’s draft. Jalen Williams is a high riser in the 2022 NBA Draft. The Santa Clara product has seen his stock leap to the Lottery range since the NBA Combine a month ago. Williams made a trip to Bricktown recently. In a press conference on Thursday, he told us in the media about his trip to OKC.

Jalen Williams was one of the most entertaining and insightful prospects we were able to talk to last week to kick off prospect media availability which will run until Tuesday leading up to Thursday’s draft.

Jalen Williams discusses his Oklahoma City Thunder workout, including notes about Sam Presti coaching prospects during their workout

Williams began his conversation about his Thunder workout by commenting on the Oklahoma humidity which was of course, relatable.

Jalen Williams said in his OKC Thunder workout he was simply asked “compete” while calling the experience “awesome” then, he delivered a note that one of the best General Managers in the sport, Sam Presti, was not only there watching but coaching the young prospects.

Williams said the Oklahoma City Thunder are one of the few teams who have watched him play “a lot” while commenting later that a lot of NBA teams have not seen him play much due to him playing on the west coast.

Jalen Williams was brought in with a slew of prospects, though he only remembered Kennedy Chandler being in attendance.

The Santa Clara product is a late bloomer at 21 years old, though the 6’6 wing that weighs in at 209 pounds posted 39 percent shooting from deep a season ago while dishing out four assists, swiping a steal, and turning in 18 points per game.

While the 12th pick would be viewed as a reach, it is important to note Williams’s clarification that OKC is one of the teams who has watched him the most. Ultimately, I think his NBA home will be elsewhere, but with Sam Presti at the helm and the number of future assets OKC has to get entry back into the first round if they so choose, I would not rule it out.

Next. What to expect from the OKC Thunder with the 2nd overall pick. dark

Home/Thunder Draft