The Oklahoma City Thunder ruled the last season and secured the NBA title for the first time in their history. The franchise is looking for another ring around its reliable forward, Jalen Williams. The 24-year-old made an exceptional impact on the Thunder’s depth that can not be denied.
William’s 40-point performance in the playoff series made the Thunder’s confidence sky high ahead of the Finals, and he became a significant presence for OKC’s rotation. Recently, the young forward recalls his journey from scratch. He shared his unforgettable ‘Welcome to the NBA’ moment and highlighted the part where he faced Darius Bazley.
Williams reflected on Bazley’s impact on him during their summer league workouts. He admitted that Bazley’s dominance on the court made him question his ability in the league.
“Shoutout to Darius Bazley,” Williams added. “I got to like Summer League before we had workouts, they were already playing because they didn’t have a good year, so everyone was already back. Baze was killing the fives, I was like, there is no way I play on this team.”
Despite his early struggles in Thunder, Bazley’s raw talent was evident. While his time with the Thunder did not last long, Williams’ experience highlights the critical role Bazley played in that franchise.
Jalen Williams Emerged As A Potential Pick For The MVP Honor
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the Finals MVP when the Oklahoma City Thunder won the 2025 NBA Finals last year. But there was another valuable asset in the Thunder’s core, who could make it to the honor.
NBA legend Tony Allen told Jalen on a podcast that he thought Jalen might steal the MVP award. Jalen laughed and said that even Stephen A. Smith mentioned the same. He talked about how he got into a rhythm and did not do anything special; he just followed his usual routine.
Even though Gilgeous-Alexander won the award, Jalen proved his ability, and the Thunder now have a golden duo and strong leaders for the future.
The post Jalen Williams Reveals His True ‘Welcome To The NBA’ Moment After Facing Darius Bazley originally published on Total Pro Sports.