Jalen Williams Named NBA All-Star For First Time In Career

The Oklahoma City Thunder have seen Jalen Williams tabbed as an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career. He joins OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the roster and with Mark Daigneault and staff becoming the Western Conference coaching staff.
Jan 23, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) gestures after scoring a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
Jan 23, 2025; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) gestures after scoring a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images / Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
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The Oklahoma City Thunder are off to a 37-9 start with the best record in the Western Conference for the second straight season tied in the loss column for the best mark in the entire league. The Thunder were always deserving of two All-Stars.

Last week, superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander earned his second starting nod for the Mid-Winter Classic, marking his third appearance overall in the festivities. This week, the league named its reserve roster for each conference.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams was tabbed as one of the Western Conference reserve spots picked by the coaches.

Williams is playing elite defense and should be en route to his first All-Defensive honor at the end of the year and has done his part in netting the Thunder this lofty record amid some brutal injury luck.

This season, the Santa Clara product is averaging 21.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.8 blocks per game while shooting 47 percent from the floor, 34 percent from beyond the arc and 78 percent at the charity stripe.

Up next, the TNT crew will once again get together on Thursday, Feb. 6 where Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith will act as General Managers, drafting three separate squads to compete in the NBA All-Star game.

The new tournament-style All-Star game takes place on Feb. 16 and it will be comprised of Team Kenny, Team Shaq, Team Chuck and the winner of the Rising Stars tournament in bracket play to decide a winner inside the Chase Center in San Francisco.

Oklahoma City will at least have two players for that Sunday event in Williams and Gilgeous-Alexander, though, Cason Wallace could take his rising stars squad to the event depending on the results on Friday night.

Of course, two of the four teams will be coached by Oklahoma City Thunder members with Mark Daigneault being entrusted with one team and an assistant to be named later bench-bossing the other.


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Rylan Stiles
RYLAN STILES

Rylan Stiles is a credentialed media member covering the Oklahoma City Thunder. He hosts the Locked On Thunder Podcast, and is Lead Beat Writer for Inside the Thunder. Rylan is also an award-winning play-by-play broadcaster for the Oklahoma Sports Network.