Last season marked a unique chapter for Oklahoma City Thunder standout Jalen Williams. Williams, alongside his team, achieved the milestone of winning their first NBA championship.
However, the journey wasn’t without its challenges. Williams had to push through a nagging right wrist injury during the intensity of the playoffs.
Recently, Williams joined the Out the Mud Podcast, where he shared his thoughts on revamping the NBA All-Star Game. When asked for suggestions, Williams proposed a straightforward solution.
“I personally think it’s an easy fix. With everything, it’s just like, incentivize playing hard and maybe make the game shorter, and just play. I barely played in it because of the format. We only get a couple of quarters to play, and that’s it. I felt like I really wasn’t out there,” Williams said.
Williams later expressed that the league might be overcomplicating things. He called for a more straightforward, more player-driven approach that puts the focus back on on-court action.
“I think we’re trying to do a little too much with it. I think we’re trying to make it entertaining when it’s really just up to us to play a little harder. I think that’s what people want to see. I’m down to do it. People don’t really want to watch the sideline stuff; they want to watch the LeBrons and Stephs go at each other,” he added.
Jalen Williams Reflects On Thunder’s Defensive Culture
On the Out the Mud Podcast, Jalen Williams gave fans a closer look at the culture. He spoke passionately about the defensive mindset in Oklahoma City and explained that pride plays a central role.
“The defense is pride. I don’t want my man to score. I don’t want the team to have to cover for me. That’s how it goes… The dude in front of me is going to have to work the whole time,” Williams said.
Williams’ journey to this point has been a steady climb. After spending three seasons at Santa Clara, he entered the NBA as the 12th overall pick in the 2022 Draft by the Thunder. Since then, he has quickly evolved into one of the team’s stars. Last season, he showcased his growth with averages of 21.6 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
When the spotlight grew brightest during the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Williams elevated his performance. He averaged 23.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in the NBA Finals series.
The post Thunder’s Jalen Williams Drops Interesting Suggestion To Save The NBA All-Star Game originally published on Total Pro Sports.