When discussing the promising young talents residing on this OKC Thunder roster, the lion's share of attention is directed toward the likes of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren.
Considering they are the Big Three for the reigning champions and were just re-signed to max extensions this past summer, it's easy to see why.
However, arguably lost in the shadows of this core trio is 21-year-old guard Cason Wallace, who, since being snatched up 10 overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, has established himself as a true budding star in his own right.
Now, with him heading into his third season in the association, coach Mark Daigneault believes that fans should expect to see him reach an even higher level of play than he's shown thus far in his career.
Thunder coach suggests Cason Wallace's best has yet to be seen
During a recent practice media session, coach Daigneault told reporters that Wallace "just keeps getting better" and that, even at this still rather green stage of his career, he's already proven himself capable of being a "high, high impact player."
"Cason's got a lot of runway. You know, he's got things he can still improve on, he works really hard in the summer. He's not interested in staying the same... He's definitely gotten better since last season," Daigneault said.
This narrative surrounding Wallace should excite all of Thunder nation due to the fact that his sophomore campaign was one that solidified him as a true difference-maker for the top team in the association.
On top of posting career-high averages of 8.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists while shooting 47.4 percent from the floor and 35.6 percent from deep, the Kentucky product ranked fifth in the NBA in total deflections, sixth in total steals, and placed within the 95th percentile in defensive estimated plus/minus last season.
With him on the floor, the Thunder also found themselves boasting a defensive rating of 107.1 and held opponents to 108.8 points per 100 possessions, the latter of which ranked in the 91 percentile.
Heading into training camp, Wallace revealed that his aim for year three was to be more aggressive on the offensive side of the ball. Through four games played in the preseason, he's shown the ability to do just that, especially in the distribution department, where he's averaging 5.0 assists in 22.8 minutes a night.
He's even finished with eight assists in both of the games he's played so far with full-time rotation players.
Throughout his very young career thus far, it's been widely believed among fans and pundits that Wallace has the potential to be a true star in the league. Considering the year he just had, coupled with the Thunder headman's recent remarks, it's clear that this belief is shared by the organization as well.