Earning major MVP support<\/a> from former Nuggets coach and now ESPN analyst Michael Malone<\/a>, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander<\/a> led OKC again.<\/p>\n The presumptive league MVP<\/a> finished with a game-high 31 points to beat Minnesota, but his 11-of-14 free-throw shooting raised the eyebrows of several fans<\/a>.<\/p>\n Once again, the Oklahoma City Thunder demonstrated strength in numbers that propelled their historic 68-win season<\/a>. And in Game 1 against the T-Wolves, one intriguing name popped up as a key contributor.<\/p>\n Kenrich Williams played sparingly in the first two rounds of this postseason, and has now emerged as a huge wildcard for Mark Daigneault\u2019s<\/a> Thunder team.<\/p>\n The big man logged 10 minutes off the bench and was plus-19, finishing with eight points from 3-3 shooting as well as three rebounds.<\/p>\n Williams came in as early as the first quarter, helping OKC defend the paint and contribute on the offensive side of the ball.<\/p>\n \u201cHe hasn\u2019t played significant minutes in a game since the last game of the regular season, it was five weeks ago. <\/p>\n \u201cThe amount of invisible work it takes to keep yourself that sharp, to be able to go into a playoff game like that in the Western Conference Finals and perform the way he did, the invisible work shows up there,\u201d Daigneault said about Williams after Game 1.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s unbelievable consistency, professionalism, mental toughness, all that stuff. And I truly believe it breathes life into the team. <\/p>\n \u201cHe was a huge contributor for us this season, and he didn\u2019t really play in the first two series. He just puts his head down every day and keeps himself ready. Then, to go in and deliver like that was a huge energy boost for us.<\/p>\n \u201cOur energy was not where it needed to be in the first part of that game, and he changed it. In the second half, he really changed it. Huge credit to him, it just shows everybody what we already know about him. That was a big-time performance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Chet Holmgren is proud of Williams\u2019 readiness to play<\/p>\n In his fifth regular season for OKC, the 30-year-old registered 6.3 points and 3.5 rebounds in 16.4 minutes across 69 games (seven starts). He mainly served as the team\u2019s fourth big man in their rotation just behind Chet Holmgren<\/a>, Isaiah Hartenstein<\/a>, and Jaylin Williams.<\/p>\n As the postseason began, Williams had to truly take a backseat and sacrifice his playing time. But the way he remained ready and professional to contribute amid long inactivity is undeniably commendable.<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/GettyImages-2034217948-941x627.jpg\")
Photo by David Berding\/Getty ImagesMark Daigneault applauds Kenrich Williams for staying ready<\/p>\n