Jalen Williams Is Making NBA History, and He’s Just Getting Started

When the Oklahoma City Thunder needed someone to step up in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, it wasn’t just their MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander who answered. It was his right-hand man, Jalen Williams, a rising star who is no longer hiding in anyone’s shadow.

Williams exploded for a career playoff-high 40 points, leading the Thunder to a 120–109 win over the Indiana Pacers and securing a crucial 3–2 series lead. But beyond the stat line, the 23-year-old guard’s performance cemented what many had quietly suspected all season: Jalen Williams isn’t just a role player. He’s a future superstar.

Jalen Williams is the New Star of the NBA Finals

Williams’ 40-point eruption places him in rare company, joining the likes of Dwyane Wade, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Durant as one of the few under-25 players to drop 25+ points in three straight NBA Finals games.

What makes his Game 5 performance especially impressive isn’t just the scoring, it’s how he scored. He hit contested jumpers, slashed through defenders for tough layups, and buried clutch threes when Indiana made a late run. His chemistry with Gilgeous-Alexander, who also had 31 points, turned OKC into an offensive machine.

Together, they became the first Finals duo in 50 years to each score 30+ in three straight games. That’s not just history, it’s dominance.

NBA analysts have taken to calling Williams the “Scottie Pippen” to SGA’s “Jordan.” It’s not just flattery. Williams has been a defensive anchor all series, disrupting passing lanes, chasing shooters, and initiating fast breaks. His energy, poise, and versatility on both ends of the floor have shifted the momentum of several games.

“The motor never stops,” one analyst said on ESPN. “He’s the guy who gets the deflection, runs the break, and finishes with contact. You can’t teach that.”

Off the court, Williams is just as intriguing. After OKC’s dramatic Game 7 win over the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals, he was fined $25,000 for wearing a T-shirt with the phrase, “F–k Art, Let’s Dance.” While the league called it inappropriate, fans saw it as a window into his fearless, expressive spirit.

Raised by Air Force veteran parents, Williams and his brother Cody, now a rookie with the Utah Jazz, grew up on discipline, basketball, and belief. Their mother, Nicole Williams, even played basketball on military bases. For Jalen, the Finals isn’t just about rings, it’s about family legacy.

Williams is still on a rookie deal worth around $5 million per year through 2026. But with his Finals heroics, he’s expected to earn a massive extension this offseason. If he makes an All-NBA team, he becomes eligible for a supermax deal worth up to $296 million.

That would make him one of the highest-paid young players in NBA history, deservedly so.