This summer, the OKC Thunder committed itself to nearly $1 billion in new, standard contracts.
Among the players who received lucrative paydays was Jalen Williams, who inked a max $239.9 million deal over a five-year span that, with specific conditions, could net him as much as $287 million.
Considering he earned All-Star, All-NBA, and All-Defensive nods while serving as the de facto number two option within the eventual NBA Champion's pecking order, such a financial pact was well deserved.
Now, with the ink dried on the dotted line and his fully guaranteed salary already locked in, the aim for Williams moving forward is to find a way to continually live up to his high price tag.
During NBA Media Day, the forward addressed how he plans on doing so, and specifically credited Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards as his inspiration.
Thunder star Jalen Williams wants to play 'like I haven't gotten paid'
During Monday's festivities, Williams stressed that while he admits receiving such a lucrative bag is certainly something to celebrate, as all players in the league strive to earn as much money as they can get, the goal for him is to continue to play "like I haven't gotten paid."
He would further elaborate on such a mindset by recalling an instance where ESPN's Stephen A. Smith noted how hard Edwards plays, and described his on-court intensity as if he were someone who "never got paid before."
"I feel like that's the same mold I want to fit," Williams said
As fans are well aware, this Thunder team has shown time and time again that they're all in on abiding by a team-first mentality rather than one that prioritizes individual interests.
OKC center Isaiah Hartenstein put it best earlier in the day when he stated that, "If you want to win, you have to sacrifice."
Williams would go on to stress how his efforts this summer "cemented my love for basketball." Even after agreeing to his new five-year deal, while rehabbing from right wrist surgery, he was relentlessly working out and looking for ways to improve his game, particularly with the use of his left hand.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the 24-year-old revealed that the biggest goal for him and the team is to stave off feelings of complacency, something that, after winning a title and coming off a career-best season, could be a mentally challenging thing to do.
He also believes that there's no telling where or what his ceiling is as a player.
Staying hungry and acting like he isn't already a maxed-out player seems like the optimal approach when it comes to him pursuing the best all-around version of himself on the hardwood.