NBA Veteran has lofty goals for OKC Thunder this season
By Rylan Stiles
After a surprise Play-In Tournament appearance thanks to a 16-win improvement a season ago, the OKC Thunder are looking to continue their climb up the NBA mountain. The excitement for the 2023-24 Thunder season can only be compared in recent memories to the 2017 season after the OKC Thunder traded for Paul George and future Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony.
While this Summer did not see Hall of Fame-level fireworks, the OKC Thunder will debut the highest pick of this rebuild (Chet Holmgren), another top-ten pick (Cason Wallace), and a two-time EuroLeague MVP (Vasilije Micic).
This is to go alongside with bonafide star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a rising core of young players headlined by Josh Giddey, Jalen Williams, and the aforementioned Holmgren. The OKC Thunder also enjoy the most depth they have seen since relocating to Bricktown, and their best bench boss pacing the sidelines in Mark Daigneault.
NBA Veteran has lofty goals for OKC Thunder rising star Jalen Williams ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.
It is no surprise why even the National NBA Media is getting on board with the OKC Thunder being one of the season’s surprise teams. Some even go as far as to say the Oklahoma City Thunder will be a top-four seed in the tough Western Conference.
On his Old Mann and the Three Podcast, JJ Redick brought lofty goals to the table for the OKC Thunder and their rising star Jalen Williams ahead of the 2023-24 NBA season.
“I think with OKC we are going to be forced to pay more attention to them” JJ has high praise of the Thunder: pic.twitter.com/2pvZpBtlUy
— Rylan Stiles (@Rylan_Stiles) September 26, 2023
The NBA Veteran sharpshooter said Jalen Williams could reach his All-Star potential as soon as this season. This is not the first time we have seen an NBA player tab Williams as a future All-Star, as his teammate Kenrich Williams had the same to say about him last training camp.
Last season, Jalen Williams was spectacular in 75 games he averaged 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists per game. Williams also compiled 1.9 STOCKS per game (Steals plus blocks).
Perhaps his best feature was his efficiency, shooting 52 percent from the floor, 35 percent from beyond the arc, and 81 percent from the Free Throw Line. That was good enough to not only get him a nod to the Rising Stars team at All-Star Weekend, but he took home All-Rookie First-Team honors on his way to a runner-up finish for Rookie of the Year.
Next. OKC Thunder General Manager sets expectations for this season. dark