SGA hits 2,000 points and more takeaways in OKC Thunder win vs Mavs

Jalen Williams is a two-way dynamo

Often overshadowed by the MVP case of Gilgeous-Alexander and the Rookie of the Year run of Chet Holmgren, Jalen Williams’ second season in the league has been an inconspicuous run of great performances on both ends of the floor. 

Williams finished with 27 points versus the Mavericks on 11-of-21 shooting along with five rebounds. 

Beyond his stats, Williams showed incredible intensity with his two impressive blocks in the game—the first was a chase down on Kyrie Irving, and the second was a well-timed denial on Derrick Jones Jr. in a fastbreak—which captivated the crowd and added some more decibels in the Loud City. 

His first game back after spraining his ankle last week, Williams had three blocks in the win.

“He’s getting more comfortable every night. He’s seeing different types of defenses. Kid works hard, and as he gets reps, he just continues to keep getting better. That’s what I expect,” Gilgeous-Alexander said of Williams.

True enough, Williams even went toe-to-toe against a veteran Kyrie Irving in a number of instances in the game, locking him up on the defensive end of the floor and attacking him on the other. It was a fun display of J-Dub’s competitive level as he embodied the ethos of a superstar in the making. 

With him, SGA, and Holmgren, this Thunder squad looks to be in the early stages of a possible dynasty. With a few key offseason moves, Oklahoma City could easily be seen as the team to beat, not just in the west, but in the entire association.