OKC Thunder forward Jalen Williams participated in his first NBA All-Star Game this past weekend, as he suited up for Kenny's Young Stars in the newly formatted festivities.
Though this annual experience is widely celebrated among fans and participants, with even J-Dub admitting post-game that it was "fun" and that he was "relishing in the opportunity to be here," as soon as the final buzzer sounded on the night it appeared that the luster of the star-studded weekend already had worn off for the youngster.
During his after-hours presser, he quickly told reporters that he's now solely focused on returning to regular-season action.
Jalen Williams lazar focused on getting back to OKC Thunder play
Asked when he'll be able to "turn it on" and get himself ready for the second half of the 2024-25 NBA season, Williams quickly responded by saying "right now."
"I'm already ready to go. I'll probably enjoy this for another day or two and get mentally right but I'm ready to play," Williams said.
Considering he was one of the younger and less experienced players who partook in the 2025 All-Star Game, it should come as no surprise that Williams is already looking to take his talents back to the regular season where he serves as the number two option on the top-seeded Thunder.
While he may not have been able to showcase it during Sunday's exhibitions, as he saw just seven minutes of action and posted a mere 2 points and a rebound, the forward is amid easily the best and most impactful season of his three-year professional career.
Through 51 games played, Williams is posting career-best averages of 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.7 steals, and just shy of a block while shooting 47.9 percent from the floor. He also finds himself ranking second on the team in win shares behind only MVP frontrunner Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Integral to Oklahoma City's successes on the year, the natural wing has been called upon by head coach Mark Daigneault to slot in at virtually every position in his rotation, as he's seen his role range from playing primary handler within the backcourt to starting center up front.
Impressively enough, he's managed to put his best foot forward with all tasks thrown his way.
With the aim of winning an NBA Championship, it's easy to see why Williams has quickly shifted his focus back toward aiding in the title-favorite Thunder's pursuit of doing so.
Oklahoma City will return to the hardwood for their first post-All-Star break action on Friday, February 21 where they'll be hitting the road for a matchup against the cellar dweller Utah Jazz.